© Southern Living, courtesy of Getty ImagesIt's not a meal in the south without green beans on the table! Fortunately, the common kidney bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris ) is one of the easiest vegetables to grow, even if it's your first garden. Haricot beans, sometimes called broad beans, are fast-growing, inexpensive seeds, with some varieties ready in 50 days. They produce in abundance, so you'll have plenty of green beans that you can prepare fresh, frozen or canned.
For home gardeners, Johnny's Choice Seeds, Extension Services offers top picks from the All American Selection (AAS), which examines top picks from Clemson University, North Carolina State University, Louisiana State University, University of Georgia and University of Kentucky. . Here are the best types of beans that grow in the South
Which beans should I plant?
It mainly depends on the size of your garden and if space is limited, you can plant some species in containers on your patio or balcony. Many gardeners plant both types. The main types of haricot beans include bush beans , which are compact and suitable for planting in beds or containers. They produce for three weeks. Pole beans have a vine growth and need support from a tile or trellis. They produce in six to eight weeks.
How to plant beans
Bean seeds do not germinate well, so sow them directly into the soil. Choose a spot in the sun (6 or more days of sunlight) and wait until the last frost in your area has passed. Cold and wet conditions will cause seed to rot if planted early; Wait for the soil temperature to reach 60 degrees (find soil temperature here). You can plant seeds every two weeks for the next crop.
Thin the seeds an inch deep and 2 to 4 inches apart in the row, 2 to 3 inches from the bush and 4 to 6 inches to grow smaller runner bean plants. If you're planting in containers, you can plant up to three bushes per pot at least a foot deep. Keep seeds moist, not soggy, until they germinate, then water once a week when dry (you should feel less than 6 inches of moisture).
When are the beans ready to harvest?
Checking the seed packet days before maturity will give you an idea of when each variety will be ready to pick. If the seed is harvested just before it swells, most species will be very thin. Beans "crack" when folded. After you start harvesting, check your plants daily. The more you harvest, the bigger your beans will be!
Best Bean Varieties for Growing in the South
These are beans that thrive in the heat and humidity of the south.
Seychelles
Smooth, upright pods, 5 to 6 inches long, fibrous, with good disease resistance, these prolific runner beans are a garden staple. He is an All-America Selection (AAS) winner.
Presenter
These bush beans produce upright beans about 5 to 8 inches long on the plant. They are abundant, disease resistant and adapt well to different soil conditions.
python
Originally from Asia, these pods have soft, sweet, stringy seeds; Beans grow up to 20 centimeters long. These bloom and produce throughout the summer, even in high temperatures.
paste
Similar to the above, this bean produces long, slender sweet beans up to 20 inches long and doesn't care about heat.
"fat" beans
Not really different, this bean is a seed or group of beans traditionally grown in the Appalachia region. Beans are usually rod-shaped and get their name because the pods look hairless, smooth or "oily". They usually bear the name of the family that saved the seed. Popular breeds to try include Unsustainable Half-Dinners, Gracie Grits and Josephine Jackson.
dragon tongue
This traditional bush bean has broad, crusty beans that are 6 to 8 inches long, creamy purple in color, and turn green when ripe.
Kentucky Blue
This pole bean produces long, round, upright beans, up to 10 inches long. He is another AAS winner and a longtime favorite on the South Side.
rattlesnake beans
This heirloom strain with 8 inch long pods is known for its sweet, soft buds when fresh. They are pale green with purple hues that turn green when ripe.
jade
This shrub has a classic green bean flavor with pods up to 7 inches long. It also performs well under heat stress.
willow leaf
This heirloom lima, or "oil bean," is a pole species with high-yielding plants.
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