Recently, Frank and I were talking about this year's green bean crop, how they taste and such. We came to the conclusion that green beans are okay, but not something we really enjoy. If there is another vegetable option, we will normally choose something else besides green beans, or corn either, for that matter. It's an interesting revelation to come to after all of these years.
Green beans are easy to grow and easy to can. Corn, on the other hand, takes up a lot of room and nutrients before it produces much. Most of the open pollinated corn we grow only produces one ear per stalk. We have decided that we won't grow corn or green beans in the garden next year. The corn we will just do without. We may try growing some field corn for the animals and to grind into corn meal, but the sweet corn we will forgo for a time. What we will plant are pinto beans. We have grown them once before and they are just as easy as pole beans. A friend of mine grew pinto beans and initially picked them young and tender, to cook like green beans. We can do that, as well as let them mature and cook as pinto beans. Then, we will also be able to can them as pintos, or let them dry and store them to cook later. So, this is the result of our garden pondering lately.
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With all that being said, I still wanted to see what nutrition green beans provide, after all, we all know they are good for you. From one cup of snap green beans, boiled with salt we get the following nutrients.
- calories 44
- carbohydrates 9.8g
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- protein 2.4g
- vitamins A, C, K
- folate
- choline
- calcium
- magnesium
- phosphorus
- potassium
- sodium
- Omega-3 & Omega-6 fatty acids
Our mother's were right, they are very good for you. There are many different varieties to choose from, both bush and pole beans. In our location, they don't have many pests. The grasshoppers like to eat the leaves, but it doesn't seem to deter the plants, even when they look rather dismal. Green beans and other legumes are great for fixing nitrogen in the soil and rebuilding an area that grew a heavy feeder, like corn, the previous year.
When we have moved from place to place over the years, corn and green beans are always one of the first things we stock up on. They are the old standards, easy to fix and have a dependable flavor. But after we get set up and have a variety of things to choose from, the corn and green beans kind of go to the back of the shelf. And now, they are going to be left out of the garden. We still have quite a few green beans left that we canned last year, which will eventually get eaten, or not. It's good to learn what works best, and what works best for us, will not necessarily work best with you and yours. It's something we all have to figure out for ourselves. So, happy pondering.
Until next time - Fern
Green beans are easy-peasy to grow and to can. Why not put some up every year, for *just in case*? We just finished some from 2010 which was a very good green bean year. Dry beans are good too, and don't even require canning (if you don't want to) but heck, a quart of green beans per week, and they go with everything, is just good insurance, in my book.
ReplyDeleteYou have a good point, Milton. We don't plan to do without, we're just going to try them from a different source - pinto beans. Having them, and many other food items, on the shelf 'just in case' is a must in our books. Thank you for sharing.
DeleteFern
We are growing a lot of pole and Greasy beans. We have canned some but are planning on letting most of them dry on the vine for better storage. We are growing Snow Cap and Red Hidatsa. Both are pretty seeds and work really well for baked beans which we both love. The are tall wandering plants and are growing in places we can't really grow anything else. Dry beans are so easy to store and last forever. I added 1/2 of a Jalapeno to some jars of the canned green beans and that helps add a different flavor. I will do that again. Ralph wants to grow corn but after buying a bushel of fresh sweet corn for $15.00 at the farmers market I think that is the best option to get a corn fix each year.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing the varieties you grow as well as your source for corn. The farmer's market is a good idea, Fiona.
DeleteFern
Every one says green beans are easy but I can never get a crop to grow. A few beans here and there but not much else. Wonder what I'm doing wrong???? ~Sassafras
ReplyDeleteI have had that same problem, Sassafras. I don't know if it has been part of the solution, but I have watered my beans with whey or milk a few times for calcium. Powered milk or other sources of calcium will work as well. I have also given them wood ashes for potassium. I have read that beans don't like a real rich soil, so I tend to plant them in the least fertilized areas. Good luck with your crops.
DeleteFern
I have grown both dry beans (cranberry and pinto, mostly) and green beans. One issue I have found with the dry beans is that been weevil are more of a problem, since the beans stay on the plant longer. It is also noticeable with the green beans that I leave on the plants to dry down for seed stock for the next year, but boiling or freezing the beans while the pods are still green cuts short any developing infestation (eggs or young larvae).
ReplyDeleteGood information to know. Thank you very much for sharing.
DeleteFern