One of the greatest ways to experience color in this world is in your home garden. When is the last time you saw purple beans at the grocery store? Probably never. But you can see them in your home garden. So for the fun of it, I decided to grown some Royal Burgundy beans right next to my classic Blue Lake 274 bush beans. I am also growing yellow wax beans. So I look forward to the day where I can photograph a basket full of green, yellow, and purple beans straight out of my garden. Now unfortunately the picture won't be the same on the plate as the purple beans turn green when you cook them. Besides the excellent photo op the burgundy provide, they will be easier to find come harvest time, as the purple beans will stand out against the green leaves.
When to Plant
After the risk of frost in your area has passed. For me that is actually today May 25th (I live in zone 5). If you want your harvest to go on longer, keeping planting every couple weeks until 8 weeks before the first fall frost.
Days to Germinate
Beans are very quick to germinate, in about a week, they should start poking their way through the soil.
Planting Depth
Plant your seeds to depth about 1 Β½ inches. I usually push them down until the dirt reaches just above the knuckle of my pointer finger.
Thinning Plants
Once the plants have 4 leaves, it's time to thin them out. Give each plant about 4 inches of space to grow.
Expected Harvest
Beans are a fast growing crop. I can expect to have my first harvest in about 53 days. I planted my beans on Sunday, May 23rd, 2010. So I expect the first harvest to be around Thursday, July 15th.
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