Easy Arkansas Green Beans (2024)

FAQs

What is the easiest green bean to grow? ›

Snap Beans (AKA Green beans, string beans)

They aren't susceptible to many pests or diseases, and germinate easily from seed. Both pole and bush beans are easy, but if you're growing in containers, or would rather not deal with putting up trellises, bush beans are the way to go.

When to plant beans? Seeds are best sown outdoors any time after the last spring frost date, when soils have warmed to at least 48°F (9°C). Don't plant too early, as cold, moist soil will delay germination and could cause the seeds to rot.

Add the green beans to the boiling water and cook until bright green and crisp-tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain and transfer immediately to the ice water to stop the cooking. Let sit until cooled, 1 to 2 minutes.

I recommend roasting or steaming them. For the roasting, preheat the oven to 400F(200C), toss the beans with some oil and salt, roast for 10 minutes, flip them, then give them another 10 minutes or until done. If they are getting too browned but not soft yet, drop the over to 325 until they're soft.

Prolific and tasty runner beans are a great choice for the novice gardener, as Carol at The Sunday Gardener explains in her excellent article How to Grow Runner Beans. Their large seeds are easy to handle and they germinate quickly – usually within a week.

Taking just two months from sowing to pod production, dwarf green beans are one of the quickest growing varieties – plus kids love them! In summer the beans can be sown directly into the ground or into pots of potting soil.

Do not plant beans near garlic, onions, chives, leeks, scallions, shallots, peppers, wormwood, fennel, or gladioli. Alliums such as garlic, onions, chives, leeks, scallions, and shallots will stunt the growth of the beans. Most plants dislike fennel, and it has an inhibiting effect on them.

The average bush bean produces roughly a half-pound of fruit throughout an entire season. Climbing beans double that at nearly a full pound per season, but even so, you will want several plants to ensure a decent harvest.

Green beans grow best in a well-prepared and organically amended soil. They should receive six to eight hours or more of sunlight every day for optimum growth. Green beans can be directly seeded in the garden and do not need to be started as transplants.

The correct way to cook green beans with soaking method is to soak them in water overnight or at least 3 to 4 hours before cooking. Long soaking time helps to soften the green beans and thus, reduces the cooking time and saves gas.

How long does it take to get green beans after they bloom? ›

Timeline: Plant beans after the chance of frost has passed (Figure 2). Days to harvest range from 50 to 70 days.

Steaming is a simple way to cook vegetables, and it leaves the flavor and much of the nutrients intact. It's slightly healthier than boiling since fewer nutrients end up in the water. Plus, steaming requires little time and attention. A steamer basket is a great kitchen tool to have on hand.

On a cooking note, regarding tough green beans, you may be undercooking them.

Your Beans Will Cook Faster

Well, creating an alkaline (or basic) environment by adding a small amount (about 1 teaspoon per cup of dry beans) of baking soda to your soaking/cooking water can actually help your beans cook faster.

Don't overcook them!

Nothing is worse than a mushy, overcooked green bean. Crisp and slightly tender beans is the goal. To achieve this, taste a bean or two during the cooking process. If it is too crispy for you, keep cooking, testing another green bean in a minute or two.

French green beans, also called Haricots Verts, tend to be smaller, more tender, and quicker to cook. Their seeds are so small that they're almost unnoticeable. For these reasons, French green beans are generally considered the best green beans to buy, and they're priced accordingly.

Bush green beans do well in containers as small as 8" deep and 8" wide per plant. Try 'Bush Blue Lake' or 'Contender' for good flavor and consistent production. Pole beans need a larger container and a sturdy trellising system. 'Cherokee Trail of Tears' can be grown both for fresh green bean or as a dry bean.

Both pole beans and bush beans have their merits, but if we're talking about the path of least resistance, bush beans typically get the nod. Bush beans, as their name suggests, grow compactly, resembling a shrub or a bush. They don't require any sort of trellising or support structure, which means less work upfront.