Hardly any type of bean has as many names as the white bean: broad bean, field bean, broad bean, broad bean and many others. White bean, of course, it is called because of its white color. Growing them is easier than many other types of beans. Learn how to plant kidney beans in your garden below.

The kidney bean is almost always a bush bean and therefore does not need a climbing aid

A rarity: the cold resistance of the kidney bean

Unlike its cold-sensitive sisters such as the red bean, the kidney bean can cope very well with the cold even as a young plant. It even withstands bean frosts without any problems. Therefore, the kidney bean is already sown outdoors in mid/end of February.

tips

The kidney bean should not be sown too late, otherwise it will be attacked by the black aphid.

Sow the kidney beans

As already mentioned, white beans are sown directly outdoors in mid-February, when the ground is not frozen. It is planted relatively deep in the ground, which protects it against hard frosts: you should plant the kidney bean 8 to 12 cm deep and keep a distance of 10 to 20 cm between each bean plant.
White beans are almost always bush beans, so they don't need any climbing support.

location

Beans need a lot of light to thrive. So does the kidney bean, even if it is actually a vetch. A sunny location is therefore important. In addition, bush beans tend to snap off, which is why a wind-protected location makes sense. To protect them from breaking off, the beans can be piled up. Here's how to do it.
Crop rotation is also important, about which we will inform you in detail here.

For those in a hurry: prefer the white bean

If you want to harvest even earlier, you can grow the kidney bean in the greenhouse or on the windowsill from the end of January. This has several advantages:

  • The probability that the white beans will be infested by aphids is greatly reduced
  • The white beans can be harvested even earlier
  • You gain time to prepare your garden beds

Watch this video to learn how to prep your kidney beans:

youtube

tips

White beans take a long time to germinate. Don't despair! It can take three weeks from sowing to the first green.

Caring for white beans

White beans need a lot of water and must therefore be watered regularly. It also makes sense to mulch the beans to counteract the evaporation of irrigation water. Mulch (€239.00) also reduces weed growth.

Category:

Vegetable garden