27 Jun 2024

Planting Beans and Peas

July is a great time to get your peas and beans planted. These vegetables are not only delicious, but they’re also relatively easy to grow, making them perfect for newbie gardeners. With their ability to enhance your garden’s productivity and provide a bountiful harvest, peas and beans are a fantastic addition to any garden. Here’s a simple guide to get you started.

Choosing the Right Spot

Both peas and beans love a sunny spot in your garden. Look for an area that gets at least six hours of sunlight a day. They also prefer well-drained soil, so avoid any areas where water tends to pool after rain.

Preparing the Soil

  1. Clear the Area: Remove any weeds or debris from the planting area.
  2. Loosen the Soil: Use a garden fork or spade to loosen the soil to a depth of about 30cm. This helps the roots to be able to grow deeply.
  3. Add Compost: Mix in a generous amount of compost or well-rotted manure with your soil. This enriches the soil and provides essential nutrients required by the growing bean and pea plants.

Planting Peas

  1. Soak the Seeds: Soak the pea seeds in water overnight before planting. This helps them germinate faster.
  2. Plant the Seeds:
    • Make a trench about 5cm deep.
    • Place the seeds about 5cm apart in the trench.
    • Cover the seeds with soil and gently pat down.
    • They’ll take around 6 to 15 days to germinate.
  3. Support: Peas need something to climb on as they grow. Install a trellis or some stakes for support.  When the plants start growing, you can attach them to the support with string.

Planting Beans

  1. Soak the Seeds: Like peas, bean seeds benefit from soaking in water overnight.
  2. Plant the Seeds:
    • Make holes about 2.5cm deep and 10cm apart.
    • Drop a bean seed into each hole and cover with soil.
    • They’ll take around 6 to 10 days to germinate.
  3. Support: Pole beans also need support, so set up poles or a trellis. Bush beans don’t need support, so you can skip this step if you’re planting bush varieties.

Watering

  • Initial Watering: Water the newly planted seeds gently but thoroughly.
  • Regular Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water the plants in the morning to reduce the risk of disease.

Caring for Your Plants

  1. Mulching: Apply a layer of mulch around your plants to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
  2. Feeding: Once the plants start to flower, feed them with a balanced fertiliser to encourage healthy growth and more pods.
  3. Pest Control: Keep an eye out for pests like aphids and slugs. Use organic pest control methods if necessary.

Harvesting

  • Peas: Peas are ready to harvest when the pods are full and round (around 60 days).  Simply pick them off the plant. Regular harvesting encourages more pods to grow.
  • Beans: Beans are ready when they are firm and snap easily. Like peas, regular harvesting will result in more pods. (Bush beans take around 50 days to harvest, climbing beans around 55 days).

Growing peas and beans is a rewarding experience, especially when you see the fruits of your labour on your dinner plate. They are also are a fantastic way to introduce kids to the joys of an edible garden—watching these fast-growing veggies sprout and flourish is a fun and rewarding project for little gardeners! Follow these simple steps, and you’ll be enjoying fresh, home-grown harvest in no time!