Green beans (aka string beans or snap beans) are one of our earliest spring harvests. Seed to table is usually about 60 days.
We are currently harvesting both bush beans and pole beans. The difference between the two being: bush beans mature all at once while pole beans mature over a longer period of time. Additionally, bush bean plants are usually no more than 18” tall, while pole beans grow as a vine and can reach heights of 10-12 feet (hence the name, the pole is used for support, all pole beans should be grown on a trellis.)
For those with year round gardens think about doing at least two or three plantings, stagger the sowing, and you’ll have fresh green beans all summer.
To collect green beans seeds for next year allow some of your green beans to
stay on the vine till they appear dry and brittle . Collect the seeds and then store in a cool dry place.
One of my favorite ways of preparing green beans is the roasting method. See Roasted Green Beans recipe from kidscooking.about.com
For more green bean recipes please see the following:
1) GreenBeansNMore.com
2) 4 Fresh Recipes for Green Beans from Eating Well.com
3) 4080 ways to cook green beans from Cooks.com
