Beans culture in Quebec
Beans are an essential vegetable for every gardener, whether beginner or experienced. Easy to grow, productive, and rich in nutrients, they adapt to various climates and soils. In this blog, you'll discover all the steps and tips to successfully grow beans.
Why Grow Beans?
Beans offer numerous benefits:
Ease of cultivation: They are low-maintenance, making them perfect even for beginners.
High yield : A small area is enough to harvest generous quantities.
Nutritional richness : Beans are an excellent source of plant-based protein, fiber, and vitamins. They also store well when dried for long periods.
Soil improvement : Beans naturally enrich the soil with nitrogen thanks to their nitrogen-fixing roots.
Different Types of Beans
Depending on the space available, you can choose the most suitable growth habit for your needs:
1. Bush Beans
Compact growth without support.
Perfect for small spaces, but yield is lower than climbing beans.
Examples : Haricot nain Duch Princess, Comtesse de Chambord, Velour, Beurre à graine noire.
2. Climbing Beans (Pole Beans)
Require stakes or trellises to climb.
Higher yield than bush beans, over a longer period.
Examples : : Kahnawake Mohawk Climbing Bean, Skunk, Grand-mère, etc.
3. Semi-Climbing Beans
A mix of bush and climbing beans, requiring some support.
Higher yield than bush beans, but shorter than climbing beans.
Examples : Haricot buissonnant Night Fall,
Beans for Fresh or Dried Eating?
Whether bush, climbing, or semi-climbing, some beans are meant to be eaten fresh, dried, or both.
1.Fresh Beans
In Quebec, these are known as "small green, yellow, or purple beans."
Pick them regularly to encourage continuous production.
Examples : Haricot nain Duch Princess, Comtesse de Chambord, Les meilleurs haricots nains, Beurre de roquencourt, haricot grimpant skunk
2.Dry Beans (Legumes)
Can be bush, climbing, or semi-climbing.
Some can be eaten fresh, but typically, they grow all summer and are harvested only in the fall.
Examples : Haricot grimpant True Red Cranberrie, haricot nain sec Pois-fève Laliberté, etc.
2. Semi-Dry Beans (For Complexity!)
Can be bush, climbing, or semi-climbing.
These beans are left on the plant long enough that they can't be eaten fresh but are too early to be dried. The beans are plump but still fresh. Be cautious—don't eat them raw as they can cause stomach issues. Cook them like edamame.
Examples : Haricot grimpant Fidelutza, haricot d’Espagne etc.
When and How to Plant Beans
1.Choose the Right Time
Beans love heat. Plant them after the last frost, when the soil is at least 12°C (late May to early June in temperate regions of Quebec).
For staggered harvests, plant every 2 to 3 weeks until July.
2Prepare the Soil
Choose a sunny spot.
The soil should be light and well-drained.
Avoid adding too much nitrogen, as it encourages leaf growth at the expense of pods.
3. Planting Beans
For Bush Beans:
Plant in rows spaced 40 cm apart.
Place one seed every 5 to 10 cm, at a depth of 2-3 cm.
For Climbing Beans:
Set up 2-meter stakes before planting.
Plant 4 to 6 seeds around each stake, spaced 50 cm apart.
Climbing beans can be planted more densely than bush beans.
4. Watering
Keep the soil moist until the plants emerge (about 7 to 10 days).
Water moderately. At Terre Promise, we use BRF mulch, meaning we don't water at all during the summer, and the beans do just fine.
Si vous tenez à arroser, faites-le au pied des plants pour éviter l’humidité sur les feuilles, qui peut causer des maladies.
Caring for Beans
1. Watering
If you prefer to water, do so at the base of the plants to avoid moisture on the leaves, which can cause diseases.
2. Mulching
Add a layer of mulch around the plants to retain moisture and suppress weeds. We use grass, fallen leaves, and wood chips (BRF). Beans have shallow roots, so weed gently to avoid damaging them. If you have mulch, there's no need to weed!
3. Supporting
For climbing beans, check regularly to ensure the vines are winding correctly around the stakes. Plants will waste energy searching for support and won't produce if not properly guided. Once they are wrapped around, they will begin to produce beans.
Diseases and Pests to Watch Out For
Common Diseases
Anthracnose: Brown spots on leaves and pods.
Solution : Avoid watering on the leaves and use healthy seeds.
Rust: Pustules orangées sur les feuilles.
Solution : Improve air circulation around the plants.
Pests
Aphids: They weaken plants by sucking sap.
Solution : Introduce ladybugs or spray with soapy water. Or release your chickens into the garden.
.Bean Flies: Larvae attack seeds and young plants.
Solution : Plant when the soil is well-warmed to avoid infestations.
Harvesting and Storing Beans
1.Harvesting at the Right Time
Green Beans: Harvest them young and tender, about 2 months after planting.
Shell Beans : Let the pods swell and harvest when the beans are fully formed.
Dry Beans: Leave the pods on the plant to dry until they are crunchy.
2. Storing Beans
Green Beans: Store in the refrigerator for 5 to 7 days. For longer storage, blanch them and freeze.
Dry Beans: Once dried, store in an airtight jar, away from moisture. But don’t forget to freeze them for 3 weeks to prevent the bruchid beetle, an insect that lives inside beans. To do this, place them in a sealed plastic bag in the freezer, then remove them to store at room temperature.
Tips
After harvest, leave the roots in the soil to release nitrogen, which benefits future crops.
Return garden waste (empty pods, stems) to the soil to protect soil life during the winter months.
Conclusion
Growing beans is simple, rewarding, and accessible to everyone. Whether you opt for green, pole, or dry beans, they will bring diversity and freshness to your garden while naturally enriching the soil. With minimal maintenance and a few good practices, you'll enjoy generous harvests throughout the season.