Colter Green Bean

BEANS - BUSH

SOWING RATE: 2 oz/57 g sows 18 ft/6 m of row; 1/2 lb/227 g sows 75 ft/23 m; 60-80 lbs/27-36 kg per acre depending on variety. Most growers plan for 100,000-105,000 live plants per acre by sowing 110,000-115,000 seeds per acre @ 90% germ.

CULTURE: Sow every 10 days - from May 20th. (use treated seed for early sowings) providing the soil temperature is 60°F/16°C until July 30th. Untreated seed should not be planted until ground temperature reaches an average daytime temperature of 65°F/18°C (In our region - June 10th.). Space seeds 2-4 in/5-10 cm apart, in rows 24-30 in/61-76 cm apart. Sow beans fairly shallow - about 1 in/25 mm deep (1.5 in/3 cm maximum). Most growers fertilize before sowing. Seed must not touch concentrated fertilizer.

GERMINATION: Beans require a minimum soil temperature of 60°F/16°C and a maximum of 75°F/24°C. They will not germinate properly if planted too deeply or too early in cold wet ground.

SEED COLOR: Never use white seeded beans too early. Black and tan seed can regulate water uptake in cool, wet soils, preventing the cracking of the cotyledons. White seeds transmit water too fast, cracking the cotyledons which reduces seed vigor and germination.

CULTIVATION: Do not cultivate after a rain or too early in the morning when plants are wet. This causes bean rust, anthracnose or blight and helps to spread mosaic.

TREATED SEED: Due to the cold soil conditions during May and early June, which prevail in Canada and the Northern parts of the USA, we find it necessary to offer treated seed. Organic Gardeners may choose from those varieties where we indicate that untreated seed is also available - these are marked UT.

PESTS: Watch for ground hogs or woodchucks as they tend to snack on the tender shoots as emerge from the soil. Control the Mexican Beetle with Sevin or Malathion as it appears or dust with Rotenone. If you are organic, try planting marigolds between the rows or garlic in each hill of beans. 2 oz/57 g contains 150 - 200 seeds.

MATURITY DATES: Since beans are very sensitive to cool soil temperatures, all our days to maturity are calculated from germination to harvest. Just like sweet corn, colder clay loam soils can delay emergence on earlier 47-54 day varieties, especially if you choose white seeded types. On sandy loam or gravel soils, where heat units are higher, the dates should be accurate. Allow 5-7 days more on cold, wet soils. Wet weather will cause runners.

SHIPPING BEANS (S) have extra fibre to prevent breakage during the long journey to market and to keep their appearance (less lumpy). They are never used for processing, freezing or canning, but can be used for the first and last sowings for PYO (pick your own) operations. Chain stores prefer this type - they stay "beautiful" for extended periods. This type can be machine harvested.

FRESH MARKET BEANS (F) have less fibre and some very tender types will get lumpy fast, if you don't harvest on a regular basis during hot weather.

PROCESSING & GOURMET BEANS (PG) have almost no fibre at all and are very tender. These are the ones for use by canning companies. The darker green types are best for freezing. You must sow this type once or twice a week to avoid crop loss during unexpected weather stress. They can and will get lumpy within a day or two, because they have no fibre to keep them slim. Processing types can be machine harvested. Gourmet types should be hand harvested for less breakage.

SEED COUNT: Most Green Bush Beans average 1,000 -1,500 seeds per lb/454 g