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BEANS

 

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Bush beans   Climbing beans   Tropical beans   Edamame   Broad beans New Guinea bean

BEANS

Beans with the exception of Broad Beans are warm season crops and frost tender. Seeds germinate best at 18 - 25°C; seed will rot in cold, wet soil and even if they do germinate the plants will lack vigour and be overtaken by a later sowing into a warmer soil. In temperate areas sow beans through spring and early summer. In cold temperate areas you may need to wait until late October, early November. In  frost-free, subtropical areas beans can be sown all year but will suffer from pest (bean fly) and disease (rust) problems at the height of summer so avoid sowing in December and January. In tropical areas sow during the dry season April to August. In the tropics snake beans can be a better choice as they are more disease resistant. Other tropical beans include Madagascar Bean and Winged Bean. These tropical beans can be grown as far south as Brisbane but require a very warm soil to germinate so should not be sown before early summer.

Soil Type: Fertile, well drained, garden loam with a pH of 6.2 - 7

Germination period: 4 - 10 days
Planting depth: 5 cm deep
Position: Full sun; bush beans can have a strange reaction to insufficient sunlight or constant overcast weather, they can start to turn into climbers. All beans were originally climbers and may revert if conditions don't suit them, such as not enough sunlight.
Sow Where: Direct into garden bed
Row Spacing: Double rows 60 cm apart
Plant Spacing after thinning: 10 - 15 cm between plants
Details: Hill plants, up to 10 cm deep, to protect from wind damage. Water well once after sowing and then do not water again until seedlings appear.
Harvest: Pick daily, early in the morning for the best flavour

BUSH or DWARF BEANS

Bush Bean 'Blue Lake' Organically certified

Phaseolus vulgaris

'Blue Lake' is considered one of the best tasting bush beans; it has round green stringless pods which are tender and sweet. It is heavy bearing with pods 17cm; it does well in warm areas. Suited to freezing. Sow spring and summer.

SB106 45 seeds $3.50

 

SB107 250g $11.00 

 

SB108 1kg $33.00  

 

Bush Bean ‘Cherokee Wax’  

Phaseolus vulgaris

'Cherokee Wax’  is a true heritage butter bean, it is believed to have been in cultivation for many centuries. A heavy bearing, rust resistant plant; the pods are stringless, yellow, 13-15 cm long with a rich flavour.

SB239 45 seeds $3.50  

 

Bush Bean ‘Italian Romano’

A stringless bean with flat, medium-green pods 15 cm long with a meaty texture and excellent flavour. Beans hold well on the plant without becoming tough. Very disease resistant and productive.

Although these are bush beans, they can have a strange reaction to insufficient sunlight or constant overcast weather and start to turn into climbers. All beans were originally climbers and may revert if conditions don't suit them, such as not enough sunlight.

SB230 45 seeds $3.50 

 

SB231 250g $8.00 

 

SB232 1kg $24.00 

 

Bush Bean ‘Provider’ 

Phaseolus vulgaris

'Provider' is a bush bean, disease resistant and very productive. It has an upright growth habit; producing straight, tender, stringless, round pods, 17 cm long. This variety has the ability to germinate in cool soil so is a good choice for early spring sowing.

SB100 45 seeds $3.50   Organically certified

SB101 250g $11.00    Organically certified

SB102 1kg $33.00    Organically certified

 

Also available untreated

SB203 250g $8.00   

 

SB204 1kg $24.00   

 

Bush Bean ‘Roc D’Or’  Organically certified

‘Roc D’Or’ is a classic ‘French’ bean with crisp, golden yellow, slender, straight pods,14 - 15 cm long, with black seeds and purple flowers. Excellent yields with good disease resistance. Germinates well in cool soil so is a good choice for early spring sowing.

SB249 45 seeds $3.50   

 

SB250 250g $11.00   

 

SB251 1kg $33.00   

 

Bush Bean 'Simba'  

Phaseolus vulgaris

'Simba' is an open-pollinated, smooth, round, stringless variety; producing very dark green, fleshy beans 13-14 cm long with a great flavour. It is a heavy cropper and disease resistant to rust, summer death and halo blight. A major commercial variety, very suitable for farmer's markets. Days to harvest:45 - 52

SB205 45 seeds $3.50

 

SB206 250g $8.00   

 

SB207 1kg $24.00   

 

 

 

Bush Bean 'Strike'  

Phaseolus vulgaris

'Strike' is an open-pollinated, very smooth, round, stringless variety; producing glossy, green beans 14 cm long with white seeds and a great flavour. It is a heavy cropper and disease resistant to common mosaic.

Days to harvest:45 - 52

SB208 45 seeds $3.50

 

SB209 250g $8.00 

 

 

CLIMBING or POLE BEANS

Bean Climbing 'Blue Lake’

Phaseolus vulgaris

‘Climbing Blue Lake’ is a stringless, round, tender, dark green bean 15 cm long with exceptional eating qualities; it also freezes well. It is very productive; generally climbing beans produce over a long period than bush beans. ‘Blue Lake’ also copes well with summer heat.

SB252 45 seeds $3.50   

 

SB253 250g $8.00   

 

SB254 1kg $24.00   

 

Bean Climbing 'Northeaster'  Organically certified

Phaseolus vulgaris

syn. ’Early Riser’, ‘Kwintus’

‘Northeaster’ is a Roma-type flat bean with pods up to 20 cm long, 2.5 cm wide. The vigorous vines produce an abundance of tasty, stringless, bright green beans with white seeds. It matures almost 2 weeks earlier than other climbing beans and stays tender even when big.

SB246 45 seeds $3.50   

 

SB247 250g $11.00   

 

SB248 1kg $33.00   

 

Bean Climbing ‘Scarlet Runner’ 

Phaseolus coccineus

'Scarlet Runner' syn. 'Seven Year' bean is an heirloom variety with long, flat dark green pods with good eating qualities. An added attraction is the scarlet flowers. It can be treated as a perennial, shooting back from the rootstock every year. Best for cooler areas, it may fail to flower and bear well in warmer areas. Sow in temperate areas from spring to early summer.

SB150 12 seeds $3.50  

 

SB229 250g $8.00   

 

SB194 1kg $24.00  

 

What's in a name?

The beans commonly grown and sold in Australia can also be called French beans, green beans, snap beans, shell beans or runner beans.

Botanically they can be divided into 2 groups:

1. Phaseolus vulgaris

This group includes snap beans, string beans, French beans, kidney beans, flageolets, haricot vert, filet beans and romano beans. This is a very diverse group, with seeds in an amazing range of colours. There are both fresh and dried types and climbing and bush types.

2. Phaseolus coccineus

This group is commonly called Runner Beans syn. Case Knife Bean, the bean seeds are large and the flowers are pink or red. Most runner beans are climbing which is where the name 'runner' comes from and they are often perennial . It includes the cultivars Painted Lady, Sunset, Scarlet Runner syn. Seven Year Bean. They are best in cooler areas.

 

These beans can be further divided into bush (also called dwarf beans) or climbing beans (also called pole beans).

 

EDAMAME

Soybean ‘Edamame’ 

Not to WA

Glycine max

Edamame is a large-seeded type of soybean that is eaten as a green vegetable. It is both highly nutritious and a delicious taste treat. It is prepared by boiling or steaming the pods for 5-10 minutes, then cooling under running water. It is eaten by squeezing the seeds from the fibrous pods. The seeds can also be used as a dried bean, to make tofu, miso, soy flour and soymilk. It is an annual warm season legume, to 75cm in height, that grows best in temperate and subtropical climates. Sow it from October to February from Sydney north to Brisbane and in southern QLD; sow it from September to March on the Atherton tableland and in the Bundaberg area; sow it from April to March in the Bowen area.  This seed is unlikely to do well south of Sydney.

Soil Type: Rich, well drained, garden loam; keep soil moist once pods start to fill

Germination period: 10 days; it germinates best at 20 - 25°C soil temperature; do not over-water, seed rots easily
Planting depth: 2.5 - 3 cm deep
Position: Full sun; direct where it is to grow.
Row Spacing: 30 cm apart
Plant Spacing: 30 cm between plants

Days to harvest: 80 - 90; harvest when the seeds have reached full size and the pods are fat and bright green, before the pods yellow.

SS204 50 seeds $3.50 Organically certified

SS212 250g $6.50    untreated

SS213 1kg $18.00    untreated

Soybean as green manure

Soybean seed for sprouting

TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL BEANS

Bean 'Madagascar'      

Not to WA

Phaseolus lunatus

A vigorous, climbing, tropical lima bean, it lives for many years and is excellent at coping with wet, humid conditions. It can be used as a tropical alternative to broad beans or as a dried bean. The dried beans cook quickly and make tasty vegetarian burgers! Suitable for warm temperate, subtropical and tropical areas. H Madagascar Bean further information....
SB111 10 seeds $3.50
Temporarily unavailable

Bean Bush 'Snake'  

Vigna unguiculata var. sesquipedalis   

syn. Chinese Long Beans, Red Seeded Dwarf Snake Bean

A fast growing bush bean with stringless 30 cm long, light green pods with reddish brown seeds. The beans have a slightly sweet flavour and crunchy texture; use them steamed, in stir-fries or curries. Resistant to Bean Fly and Rust that can make French or runner beans difficult to grow over summer. Sow all year round in tropical and frost-free areas. Elsewhere sow from spring to early summer.  H

SB237 20 seeds $3.50 Temporarily unavailable

 

Bean Climbing 'Snake'  

Vigna unguiculata var. sesquipedalis   

syn. Chinese Long Beans, Yard Long Bean, Asparagus Bean

A fast growing climbing bean with stringless 60 cm long, light green pods with brown seeds. The climbing types take longer to come into production, but then produce for a longer period than the bush types. The beans have a slightly sweet flavour and crunchy texture; use them steamed, in stir-fries or curries. Very nutritious, they are a good source of protein, vitamins A, C, thiamin, riboflavin and minerals. Snake bean is resistant to Bean Fly and Rust that can make French or runner beans difficult to grow over summer. Sow all year round in tropical and frost-free areas. Elsewhere sow from spring to early summer.  H

SB142 20 seeds $3.50 

Bean ' Winged'

Psophocarpus tetragonolobus

syn. Goa Bean, Asparagus pea  

Winged bean is a vigorous, tropical climber with mauve-blue flowers and four-angled pods with wavy margins. The pods, leaves, flowers and tubers are all edible. It is high in protein: the seeds contain 34% protein and 17% oil; the root contains 20% protein. If you are growing it for pods, leaves or flowers, grow it on a trellis; a trellis is not needed if you are growing it for the tuberous roots – let it sprawl. Of course, you will need to replant annually if you are harvesting the roots. The young leaves (top three sets of leaflets on a shoot) are cooked and eaten. The flowers taste like sweetish mushrooms. It is among the world’s most effective nitrogen-fixers.

A short day length (11-13 hours of daylight) during hot weather is required to flower, so it is not suitable for temperate areas; it is also very frost sensitive. It grows to 3 - 4m. Wait for warm, humid weather before sowing; in the subtropics sow November - December; in the tropics sow October until January. It will grow on a wide range of soils but requires moisture to do well; it tolerates acidity. Plant rows 1m apart; with 30 - 60 cm between plants. To improve germination either rub seeds with sandpaper or soak in hot water until the seeds swell. Harvest the pods when 10 - 20 cm long; use like green beans. Days to harvest: 60. H

 

SB113 25 seeds $3.50  

 

SB214 100g $18.00  


BROAD BEANS syn. Fava Bean, Faba Bean

Vicia faba

Broad beans are eaten either as a young pod or a mature bean, fresh or dried. Also useful as a winter green manure. Sow late summer, autumn, winter. Best in temperate areas; it may fail to flower and bear well in warmer areas.

 

'Aquadulce'         

'Aquadulce' is an heirloom broad bean variety with a great flavour. It produces an early, prolific crop on tall plants, pods are 15 cm long.

SB258  40 seeds $3.50 

 

SB110 250g $5.00

 

SB233 1kg $13.00

 

 

 

'Coles Dwarf'         

‘Coles Dwarf’ is short variety able to withstand more wind damage than other broad beans. It produces a prolific crop of gourmet beans with a great flavour. The pods are 13 cm long x 2.5 cm wide with 3 – 4 seeds each. The young pods can be harvested and eaten whole, or wait until the pods are full size and then shell the pods for the white seeds.

SB259  40 seeds $3.50 

 

SB260 250g $5.00

 

SB261 1kg $13.00

 

 


New Guinea Bean
Lagenaria siceraria

Syn. Italian edible gourd, gourd cucuzzi, Indian squash, bottle gourd, calabash gourd, doodhi, lowki

Not of course a bean at all, instead this is a type of squash. A traditional Italian vegetable, the light green fruits are cylindrical 60 -100 cm long and can weigh up to 2.5 kg. The creamy white flesh is said to have a flavour and texture similar to green beans, which is probably where it gets its common name. The white flowers are large and scented. Sow next to a trellis, after all danger of frost has passed, with a minimum soil temperature of 22ºC, 2.5 cm deep, 30 cm apart. Early plants can be sown in seedling pots for later transplanting. Prepare well-drained soil with compost and well-rotted manure. Pick the green fruit when young, 15-60 cm long. Prepare it in a similar way to squash. H

SN101  10 seeds $3.50  

 

 

Photo courtesy of the Long Island Seed Project www.liseed.org

 

Looking for Guada Bean?

There is a bit of confusion around this plant name. It is sometimes used as a synonym for New Guinea Bean Lagenaria siceraria which is a true gourd but more often refers to Serpent Gourd Trichosanthes anguina. Seed of Serpent Gourd is currently available here.

 

 

ASIAN and TROPICAL VEGETABLES FOR HOT WET SUMMERS

If you are challenged by pest and disease problems in your vegetable garden during hot, humid summers, don’t give up! Green Harvest offers a range of vegetables, grown around the world in subtropical and tropical areas, that we have found to be hardy and reliable to the weather extremes of high temperature and humidity experienced in the ‘wet season’. As a general rule sow these vegetables from October through to March, to replace more temperate varieties. Seeds suitable for these conditions are marked H for hot and humid! Seeds for Hot Humid Areas

 

Part of the problem is gardening books written by authors from cooler areas neglecting to give good advice on plant selection for northern areas of Australia. We recommend the books The Seed Savers Handbook or Organic Vegetable Gardening for the best information on subtropical vegetables.

 

= Organically certified

 

 

 

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DISCLAIMER:

We guarantee our seeds to the value of the purchase price. We are happy to replace the seeds, give you a credit or refund, whichever you prefer. Other than our guarantee to the extent of the purchase price Green Harvest gives no other warranty expressed or implied. No liability will be accepted by Green Harvest, its owners or employees as to the accuracy of any information. No responsibility will be taken for damage to property or persons due to information given about a product or technique. No responsibility will be taken for the loss of a crop or income due to information given about a product or technique.

 

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