Growing Pole Beans- Benefits and Instructions
Benefits of Growing Pole Beans
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Medicinal- Beans may help to reduce the risk of heart disease, help manage diabetes, help boost the immune system and regulate the digestive system.
- Nutritional Profile - Beans contain Vitamin A,C, potassium and magnesium.
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Use in: Soups, salads, roasted, grilled, steamed, crudite, pickled.
Growing Instructions
Culture:
Harvesting:
Pick young, full size pods when smooth and crisp. Pods are mature once the beans start to form. Harvest regularly for a constant supply. Beans for shelling are picked when the seeds reach full size but are still tender. Pick shell beans when the pods are still green and the swollen seeds are visible from the outside. Beans that are to be dried stay on the plant until the seeds are hard and rattle in the pods. The alternative is to cut the plants when pods turn yellow and hang the plants in a warm dry place until the pods become brittle and the seeds rattle in the pods. It’s best to harvest dry beans before the pods spilt open and the beans spill out. Pods can also be dried on screens or racks indoors.
Storage/Preparation:
Beans can be stored in the refrigerator crisper for 7-10 days in a plastic bag or container to maintain moisture. Beans also freeze very well and can be pickled or lacto fermented. Store dried beans in airtight jars, but sure the beans are dry before storing them to avoid spoilage.
Companions:
Carrot, corn, chard, pea, potato, eggplant. Avoid cabbage & onion families.