Bush bean spacing
Bean None Given
How many bush beans can I grow productively in 1 square foot? I am reading that 9 will fit but this seems like quite a lot of plants for the space. Does anyone have experience of square foot gardening? How many bush beans have you managed to grow in one square?
Posted
by: Angie Hayes
(1 point)
Posted: May 24, 2013
Answers
For dense plantings, I'd suggest sowing a compact, upright, easy-to-harvest variety such as E-Z Pick or Provider. I've gone to using E-Z Pick almost exclusively, because they "reveal" their beans among the foliage for easy picking and they don't flop over. Both varieties are nearly foolproof; they germinate well in cool soils and yield abundantly over a long harvest season.
By the way, We use a bean frencher (a crank device widely available for $20-$25 ) to slice our surplus beans lengthwise for freezing. For some reason, they taste oh-so-much better frozen than the chopped beans.
By the way, We use a bean frencher (a crank device widely available for $20-$25 ) to slice our surplus beans lengthwise for freezing. For some reason, they taste oh-so-much better frozen than the chopped beans.
Posted
by: Peg Boyles
(4 points)
Posted: May 24, 2013
Charlie B. commented,
Thanks for the ideas on varieties to try and the French slicer for freezing. almost 11 years ago.
Thanks for the ideas on varieties to try and the French slicer for freezing. almost 11 years ago.
I plant a couple per square foot. Mel's method does work, provided you have perfect conditions and are willing to water regularly. However, I give them more space so they're more resilient and can breathe a bit. Root competition for water is much less and they don't seem to suffer nearly as much as the jam-packed ones.
Posted
by: David Goodman
(69 points)
Posted: May 25, 2013
I have managed 9 plants per square foot. Easy. Mel Bartholomew has it down to a science.
Posted
by: Bradley Cahill
(1 point)
Posted: May 24, 2013
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