High quality, dark green, very straight 5.8 in/14.75 cm, 3.5 sieve pods. Very tender with exceptional eating quality for fresh market. High tolerance to CBMV, BCTV and hot weather. White seed.
SOWING RATE: 2 oz./57 g sows 18 ft./6 m of row; 1/2 lb./227 g sows 75 ft./23 m; 60-80 lbs./27-36 kg per acre depending on variety. Most growers plan for 100,000-105,000 live plants per acre by sowing 110,000-115,000 seeds per acre @ 90% germ.
CULTURE: Sow every 10 days - from May 20th. (use Captan treated seed for early sowings) providing the soil temperature is 60°F/16°C until July 30th. Untreated seed should not be planted until ground temperature reaches an average daytime temperature of 65?F/18?C (In our region - June 10th.). Granular Nature's Aid applied in the row will increase yields for both treated and untreated seed. Space seeds 2-4 in./5-10 cm apart, in rows 24-30 in./61-76 cm apart. Sow beans fairly shallow - about 1 in./25 mm deep (1 1/2 in./3cm maximum). Most commercial growers fertilize before sowing. Smaller growers can apply after sowing in bands 2 in./5 cm deep, on each side of the seeded row. In either case, seed must not touch concentrated fertilizer.
GERMINATION: Beans require a minimum soil temperature of 60°F/16°C and a maximum of 75°F/24°C. They will not germinate properly if planted too deeply or too early in cold wet ground.
SEED COLOR: Never use white seeded beans too early! Black and tan seed can regulate water uptake in cool, wet soils, preventing the cracking of the cotyledons. White seeds transmit water too fast, cracking the cotyledons which reduces seed vigor and germination.
CULTIVATION: Do not cultivate after a rain or too early in the morning when plants are wet. This causes bean rust, anthracnose or blight and helps to spread mosaic. Improper use of rotary hoes by the grower, can destroy 10% of the emerging crop.
TREATED SEED: Due to the cold soil conditions during May and early June, which prevail in Canada and the Northern parts of the USA, we find it necessary to offer Captan treated beans. Organic Gardeners may choose from those varieties where we indicate that untreated seed is also available - these are marked UT. Captan is a mild fungicide which aids germination during the spring. Treatment prevents rot while the seeds are germinating.
INSECT DAMAGE: Watch out for ground hogs or woodchucks as the tender shoots emerge from the soil. Chief villain is the Mexican Beetle which can be controlled with Sevin or Malathion as it appears or dust with Rotenone. If you are organic, try planting marigolds between the rows or garlic in each hill of beans. As a last resort introduce praying mantis and hope they don't wander into your neighbor's fields for their next meal. 2 oz./57 g contains 150 - 200 seeds.
MATURITY DATES: Since beans are very sensitive to cool soil temperatures, all our days to maturity are calculated from germination to harvest. Just like sweet corn, colder clay loam soils can delay emergence on earlier 47-54 day varieties, especially if you choose white seeded types. On sandy loam or gravel soils, where heat units are higher, the dates should be accurate. Allow 5-7 days more on cold, wet soils. Wet weather will cause runners.
SHIPPING BEANS (m) have extra fibre to prevent breakage during the long journey to market and to keep their appearance (less lumpiness). They are never used for processing, freezing or canning, but can be used for the first and last sowings for PYO (pick your own) operations. Chain stores prefer this type - they stay "beautiful" for extended periods. This type can be machine harvested.
FRESH MARKET BEANS (n) have less fibre and some very tender types will get lumpy fast, if you don't harvest on a regular basis during hot weather. Weather stress can ruin a crop overnight. Make sowings every 10 days. Some varieties can be machine harvested but some chain buyers are asking for "hand picked". For early sowings always use dark seeded varieties.
PROCESSING & GOURMET BEANS (X) have almost no fibre at all and are very tender. These are the ones for use by canning companies. The darker green types are best for freezing. You MUST sow this type once or twice a week to avoid crop loss during unexpected weather stress. They can and will get lumpy within a day or two, because they have NO fibre to keep them slim. Processing types can be machine harvested. Gourmet types should be hand harvested for less breakage.
SEED COUNT: Most Green Bush Beans average 1,000 -1,500 seeds per lb./454 g except the European Stringless Nickel which is small seeded and averages 3,000 seeds per lb./454 g - sold by seed count, compares in cost per 1,000 seeds to regular varieties
Fabaceae Phaseolus vulgaris
