Climbers

Beans

 There are two main types of beans: pole beans and bush beans. Pole beans are vines that will need a support structure for their growth.

Bush beans are shorter and more compact; they do not need staking or trellising.

Some beans to consider growing:

Pole beans: ‘Kentucky Wonder,’ ‘Scarlet Emperor,’ ‘Blue Lake’

Bush beans: ‘Roma II,’ ‘Bountiful,’ ‘Dragon Tongue’

Peas

 Peas, similar to beans, are divided into climbing peas and bush peas. Bush peas may appreciate a shorter support structure, such as a small stake, just to ensure that they don't flop over. 

Maximizing Your Harvest!

 Peas, unlike beans, thrive in cool weather, and will even tolerate frost to an extent. Peas only take about 2-3 months till they can be harvested.

Some peas to consider growing:

Climbing peas: ‘Alaska,’ ‘Green Beauty,’ ‘Sugar Magnolia’

Bush peas: ‘Avola,’ ‘Lincoln,’ ‘Oregon Giant Pea’

1. Plant seeds about 1 inch deep in the soil. Climbing beans and peas should be sown near their trellis so that they can start twining around it as early as possible.

2. The seedlings of beans and peas have delicate roots that can easily be damaged and broken off in the process of transplanting. Sow seeds directly in your garden soil.

3. If direct sowing is not possible, place your seeds in a damp tissue. Transplant the seeds (plant outside in the soil) the moment you see roots forming from the seeds.

4. Don’t go heavy on nitrogen-rich fertilizer; because beans and peas are both legumes, they fix their own nitrogen into the soil. Excess nitrogen will lead to more leaves and fewer flowers and seeds. Instead, organic fertilizers that are high in phosphorus are the most suitable because they encourage flower and fruit growth.

5. Pick beans and peas when they can easily be snapped off the plant. Consider using scissors to harvest because unnecessary tugging and tearing can stress the plant.

Info Chart

Pests and Disease

Besides the usual pests such as aphids and leafminers, beans and peas are targeted by pests like cutworms, corn earworms, and bean beetles, which can be dealt with using organic pesticides. 

The plants are also susceptible to a common fungal disease called powdery mildew. Powdery mildew can be hard to get rid of; try spraying infected leaves with a solution containing baking soda or milk, and try not to grow your plants in a damp area.

Eating your harvest

Peas can be eaten fresh and sweet out of the garden; just remember, shelling peas don’t have edible shells, while snap peas and snow peas do. The flavor of shelling peas shines when they are simply boiled, buttered, and sprinkled with salt.

As for beans, you can’t go too wrong. They go in chili, stews, burritos, salads, hummus, falafel, vegetarian burger patties, and even brownies—depending, of course, on the type of bean used.

References: Unsplash, Almanac.com, getbusygardening.com, PlantVillage, Listverse