How To Grow Kidney Beans

You need to make sure that the roots don't get damaged at any point during the season, even though they are easy to grow.Depending on the space you have, you will need to choose a type that works best in your area.

Step 1: Use seeds instead of plants.

You should plan on sowing the seeds instead of getting the starter plants because most kidney bean plants do not survive the transplanting process.

Step 2: There is a suitable location.

If you want to grow kidneys in a spot that gets at least six hours of direct sunlight a day, you should plan on growing them there.It is possible to find a spot with loose soil.If you want to grow a healthyKidney bean plant, you need loose soil to drain water more effectively.If you notice that the water settles in a given area when it rains, you should look for another location.Crop rotation can be done from year to year.In the past three years, other beans have grown in the soil.

Step 3: The soil should be amended.

The soil needs to be loose and light to allow water to drain.If your soil is too heavy, you will need to amend it.The soil needs to have a neutral pH.Compost and manure are good soil amendments.Either option will help loosen the overall density of the soil while also providing plenty of nutrition for the plant as it starts out.You can amend the soil with a trowel or garden rake a few weeks before you plant.The soil should have a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.It's a good idea to mix a powdered inoculant into the soil.This type of natural, healthy bacterium makes it easier for beans to absorb nitrogen during the earliest and most crucial stages of growth.

Step 4: If necessary.

Many popular bean varieties are bush beans, while a few are pole beans.If you want pole beans to produce their maximum yield, you need to fix a stake or trellis to the growing location.

Step 5: Wait until the last frost is over.

Proper warmth and humidity are required to thrive.You should plant them in the spring if you feel certain that the last frost has passed.The temperature of the soil should range from 70 to 80 F.Don't let the soil temperature drop below 60 F.Throughout most of the growing season, the air temperature should be between 65 and 80 F.If there is a frost after your plants have sprouted, cover them with a piece of cloth or canvas to protect them from the cold.

Step 6: The seeds need to be planted deep.

The beans should be planted deep in the ground.Gardeners prefer to space seeds 1 to 2 inches apart.After your seedlings reach a height of roughly 3 inches, thin them out to a more appropriate spacing, removing the weakest ones when possible and preserving the strongest.

Step 7: The seeds should be given enough space.

You will need to sow separate seeds for most varieties.When spacing 4 inches (10.16 cm) apart, pole or vine varieties do well, while compact bushes may benefit more if spacing up to 8 inches (20.32 cm).Within 10 to 14 days, the seeds should start to grow.

Step 8: Pick a large pot.

The plants can grow inside of containers if they are properly cared for.You will need a pot with a diameter of 12 inches for each plant.If you want to grow the beans in containers, choose a bush variety instead of a pole variety.Bush varieties do better indoors.The yield of an average plant is not enough for one person, that's the main reason that kidney beans are not typically grown in containers.If you want to provide yourself with enough beans for regular use, you will need to plant at least six to ten plants.If you plan on producing enough for yourself, you will need at least six to ten separate pots.

Step 9: Extra gravel can be added to the container.

If you want to improve drainage, you will need to spread a layer of gravel at the bottom of the container.The plants can quickly get wet inside the pots.

Step 10: The seeds need to be planted deep.

As with a standard garden, you need to plant a seed that is 1 to 1/2 inches deep.The seed should be in the middle of the pot.

Step 11: Water only when the soil is dry.

The roots of the plant can easily be damaged if the soil gets too wet.If your area has experienced a dry spell, you should give the plants more water.If you check the soil and see that it has dried out at least a full inch from the surface, you should only water it.You can test it by sticking your finger in the soil.

Step 12: Don't use high-nitrogen fertilizers.

Nitrogen-based fertilizers do more harm than good since they encourage the plant to send its energy to its leaves rather than its fruits, even though they will make your plants look vibrant and leafy.A leafy plant that bears very few beans will be produced by large amounts of nitrogen.When the plant gets started, the beans produce their own nitrogen.The plant will end up getting too much nitrogen if thefertilizer has high levels of nitrogen.If your plants are suffering and in need of more nutrition, use a small amount of organicfertilizer that doesn't provide a lot of nitrogen.

Step 13: Don't remove weeds if you're careful.

The roots of the plant are shallow, so it's important to dig up the weeds carefully to avoid damaging them.Don't use a hoe or trowel to chop up the weeds around the plant.Pull the weeds by hand.Spreading a layer of mulch around the plant will help keep weeds out.mulch provides extra benefit of maintaining adequate warmth and humidity while preventing rotting once they touch the ground

Step 14: There are pests and diseases to watch out for.

The plant is vulnerable to a few different diseases, and some garden pests target it.You may need to apply a pesticide if you run into problems.The leaves of the plant will be attacked by arthropods.Pick them off as you see them if you check your plants regularly.Look for a pesticide that specifically targets these insects if this isn't an option.Aphids can attack your plant, but they can't be picked off by hand.If you spot the pests, you should treat the plant with a pesticide.As soon as you see the first signs of bean rust, you should treat it with a fungicide.Your plant may be attacked by powdery mildew.It will look like white powder.You should reduce the amount of watering you do and treat the plants with a fungicide as soon as possible.The plants should only be watered at the soil level and not on the leaves in humid conditions.Squirrels, deer, and rabbits can be kept out of your yard with fencing or nets.

Step 15: All the beans should be collected at the end of the season.

The harvest of bush varieties should be done at the end of the growing season.The largest harvest is usually at the end of the season.After 90 to 150 days, you should be able to harvest the beans.Pole varieties produce a harvest on a regular basis.Adequately mature bean Pods will be dry to the touch, and the beans inside will feel very hard.Before you harvest the other one, make sure to check the beans of the first one.If you bite down on one of the beans, you can see if they are done.The rest of the bean should be dried for a longer period of time if your teeth can damage it.

Step 16: If necessary, pull plants early.

You can allow the beans to finish drying the rest of the way if the harvest is threatened by dropping temperatures.It can be hard to dry the beans on the plant.You will need to finish drying them inside as well.If you want the beans to be hard, hang the plants upside down by the root for several days or weeks.Before you pull the plants, make sure that most of the foliage is dead.As you dry the beans, keep them in a warm indoor location with lots of circulating air.

Step 17: Thepods should be broken apart.

You will need to break the open the beans to get them out of the plant.The beans should be hard and dry if the plants were allowed to mature correctly.If you have a larger harvest, you may want to shell them in batches.Place thepods in a bag.To open the Pods, step on them through the pillowcase.When done, leave behind the broken beans by sifting through the pieces.

Step 18: The beans should be kept in a dark place.

Store the beans in a dark place until they are ready to use.In the right conditions, dried beans can last a year.Store the beans in bags or jars.