Beans are a great addition to any summer garden. They come in many varieties and can add rich flavors and beautiful colors to your garden.
From climbing beans to bushy beans, there’s a type of bean for every space and taste.
Are you ready to grow a spectacular summer harvest? With so many bean varieties to choose from, you can have a bountiful and diverse harvest this season.
Let’s explore 12 fantastic options that will transform your garden into a colorful and delicious haven.
Blue Lake Pole Beans are a popular choice for summer gardens, known for their tender, juicy pods and excellent flavor. These climbing beans can reach heights of up to 8 feet, making them perfect for vertical gardening. They are ideal for fresh eating, canning, or freezing, and thrive in well-drained soil with plenty of sunlight. With a robust growth habit, Blue Lake Pole Beans provide a bountiful harvest throughout the summer months.
Kentucky Wonder Beans are a classic pole bean variety known for their high yield and exceptional flavor. These vigorous vines can grow up to eight feet tall, producing long, tender pods that are best harvested when they are young and crisp. Ideal for home gardens, Kentucky Wonder Beans are versatile, excellent for fresh eating, freezing, or canning. Their disease resistance and adaptability make them a favorite among gardeners seeking a reliable summer harvest.
Dragon Tongue beans are a visually striking variety of snap beans, renowned for their unique, mottled purple and yellow pods. These heirloom beans are not just aesthetically pleasing; they also offer a delightful flavor that is both sweet and tender. Harvested young, they can be enjoyed fresh in salads or sautéed as a side dish. Easy to grow and prolific producers, Dragon Tongue beans are an excellent choice for summer gardens, providing a colorful and delicious addition to any meal.
The Cherokee Trail of Tears bean is a remarkable heirloom variety with a rich history that dates back to the forced relocation of the Cherokee people in the 1830s. These beans are celebrated for their striking appearance, featuring dark purple pods mottled with green and brown. They offer a robust flavor and can be harvested as snap beans or allowed to mature for dried beans. Their resilience and adaptability make them a favorite among home gardeners, providing a taste of both tradition and sustenance.
Burgundy beans are a striking variety of bush beans known for their vibrant deep red-purple color. This visually appealing legume boasts a slightly sweet flavor and a tender texture, making it a favorite in summer gardens. With a quick growth cycle, burgundy beans are typically ready for harvest in just 50-60 days. They not only add bold color to dishes but also provide valuable nutrients like protein and fiber, making them a nutritious and attractive choice for any summer meal.
Royalty Purple Pod Beans are an exceptional addition to any summer garden, known for their stunning vibrant purple pods that stand out against lush green foliage. These bush-type beans are not only visually appealing but also provide a sweet and tender flavor when harvested young. They thrive in warm weather and are easy to grow, making them a favorite among gardeners. Once cooked, the purple color transforms to a deep green, adding color and nutrition to various dishes.
Provider Bush Beans are a popular choice for summer gardens due to their reliable yield and adaptability. This variety matures quickly, typically ready for harvest in just 50-55 days, making it ideal for short growing seasons. The plants are compact and sturdy, reaching about 18-24 inches tall, which makes them suitable for smaller spaces. Provider beans are known for their crisp texture and rich flavor, perfect for fresh eating, canning, or freezing. Their resistance to disease adds to their appeal for home gardeners.
Contender beans are a popular variety of bush beans known for their resilience and productivity in the heat of summer. These beans are characterized by their tender, medium green pods that are approximately 5 to 6 inches long. They offer a delightful flavor and are excellent for fresh eating, canning, or freezing. Contender beans mature quickly, typically within 55 to 60 days, making them ideal for gardeners looking for an early summer harvest. Their disease resistance also adds to their appeal, ensuring a reliable crop.
Lima beans, also known as butter beans, are a popular choice for summer harvest due to their creamy texture and delightful flavor. They thrive in warm weather and can be planted once the soil has warmed. Varieties such as ‘Fordhook 242’ and ‘Henderson’ are well-suited for home gardens, offering high yields and disease resistance. Enjoy them fresh, dried, or in a variety of dishes, making them a versatile addition to your summer meals.
Yellow wax beans are a vibrant variety of snap beans known for their tender texture and buttery flavor. They are easily recognizable by their bright yellow pods, which add a cheerful pop of color to any dish. Ideal for summer harvesting, these beans thrive in warm weather and can be enjoyed fresh, steamed, or pickled. Rich in vitamins and minerals, yellow wax beans are not only delicious but also an excellent addition to any garden or meal.
San Diego snap beans are a delightful addition to summer gardens, thriving in the region’s warm climate. Known for their crisp texture and sweet flavor, these green beans can be harvested when young and tender. They grow rapidly in well-drained soil with plenty of sun, making them perfect for home gardeners. Additionally, snap beans are versatile in the kitchen, perfect for steaming, stir-frying, or adding to salads, providing a nutritious and delicious harvest.
Pinto beans are a versatile and popular variety, known for their creamy texture and earthy flavor. Typically tan with reddish-brown speckles, these beans are harvested in the summer months and are often used in Mexican and Southwestern dishes, such as refried beans and chili. High in protein and fiber, pinto beans are not only delicious but also a nutritious choice, making them a favorite for home gardeners and chefs alike.
So, grab your spade and channel your inner bean farmer, because who wouldn’t want their summer BBQs interrupted by an avalanche of beans? Forget that boring store-bought fare—imagine impressing your friends with your exotic Dragon Tongue or your historically rich Cherokee Trail of Tears! With this fabulous mix, you won’t just be growing beans; you’ll be cultivating culinary masterpieces. So get planting and prepare for a summer fest that might just rival the Great Bean Fest of… well, wherever!
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