Pole Beans Make Excellent Garden CompanionsAllow me to introduce you to pole beans. The Organic Gardener needs to use as many natural methods as are available to them to get the most out of the ground they have. One of the best ways to make the most of your garden is through the wise use of garden companions. Beans companion especially well with corn adding nitrogen to the soil which corn needs in abundance. The vines as well as anchoring the corn discourage raccoons from getting at the ears.
Beans either snap type or one to be dried make excellent garden companions and store well for year round use. Scarlet runner beans tied on strings and ran up the side of the house or on to a bean pole makes for a colorful display as well as a very productive protein dynamo. Scarlet runner beans grow in pods up to a foot long with very many pods forming over a long period of time. These beans look like very colorful lima beans with a sweat nutty flavor. To store scarlet runners just strip them from the pods let them dry for a day put them in a mason jar then either put them in the freezer for one night or vacuum seal them.
Green beans are probably the most popular bean grown by the home gardener. Green or wax beans can be frozen after blanching (boiling in water for five minutes) or canned. I prefer canning myself but remember to use a pressure canner when canning green beans or most vegetables. When canning green or wax beans rinse thoroughly, remove any stems or strings, then cut or snap into one-inch lengths. Follow the instructions that came with your canner just remember to use a pressure canner.
Some Good Companions For Pole Beans Are:Pole beans add nitrogen to the soil making it a good choice as a companion plant. Beets and onions make bad companions for pole beans. Leave Pole Beans And Return To Companion Gardening Leave Pole Beans And Return To Grandpas Home
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