Climbing Bean Blauhilde

Phaseolus vulgaris - Blauhilde

An annual plant native to the tropical regions of America. It has a climbing stem that can reach a height of 1.5 - 2 metres. The fruit is a pod containing varying numbers of kidney-shaped seeds. The colour and size differ according to variety. Bean seeds are poisonous. They contain a substance called phaseolin. This is destroyed by cooking. Therefore, we do not consume uncooked seeds. The flowers are white, pink, yellow or purple in colour and form sparse clusters. It flowers from June to August.

Beans contain a source of amino acids and ascorbic acid.

How to Grow Beans

• This is a heat-loving plant, so we plant it in a sunny location that is sheltered from the wind. During flowering, beans need temperatures between 20-25 degrees Celsius. Beans require regular watering, the soil must not dry out, but at the same time it must not be waterlogged! All types of beans need support. Ornamental varieties will look striking on pergolas, fences or in containers with climbing structures. We plant edible varieties with stakes or create a place for tying them up with string. Loosen the soil around the plant and keep it weed-free. Regular harvesting of pods encourages the formation of further fruit.

• Sow seeds in March. Plant seeds in permeable, nutritious substrate and place in a bright location. Beans require warmth for germination, so a greenhouse or hotbed is suitable. We sow beans at their final location after 15 May, when there is no risk of frost.

  Sow bush varieties in groups of 3-4 seeds in prepared holes about 5 cm deep. Spaced about 20 cm apart.

  Sow climbing varieties in groups of about 5 seeds in holes 5 cm deep and, depending on the type of support, up to a metre apart.

• Light sandy-loam soils with sufficient soil microorganisms and nutrients are suitable. Ideal pH around 6.5.

• Use NPK fertilisers with a low nitrogen ratio. In spring, it is recommended to apply 3 kg of nitrogen per m2, 3-4 kg P2O5/m2 and 11 kg K2O/m2 in a single application. If beans are grown in nutrient-rich soil, fertilisers may not need to be applied at all.

• The most serious disease of beans is anthracnose. Browning, enlarging spots appear on young pods, the mycelium penetrates inside the pod and attacks the seeds, forming yellow-brown to red-brown spots on them. Control is carried out with chemical preparations - fungicides and destruction of post-harvest residues.

  Beans are also affected by other fungal or bacterial infections, such as grey mould, brown leaf spot, bacterial blight, bean rust and others.

  The seedcorn maggot is a fly whose larvae attack germinating cotyledons and the growing tip of the plant while still in the soil, especially in cooler, damp weather. Suitable protection is seed treatment with insecticides.

  A small, dark beetle - the bean weevil attacks seeds in which it overwinters. This results in damage to the harvest. Suitable protection is to store shelled seeds in the freezer (at a temperature of -10°C the beetles die within 10-14 days, at -17°C within 8 hours).

• Harvest for seeds when the pods are drying and the seeds are firm, well ripened and fully coloured.

  For culinary use, harvest the still unripe pods which, when lightly bent, will snap.