Senga's Blog
Eco-chic Outdoor Living & Exterior Design
Apr. 5/10 Year in Sustainable Garden: The Planning Stage: Royal Burgundy Bush Bean
No More Beans!
In my previous blogs I have been coerced by my husband chef to grow beans. He loves cooking them and I must admit the ‘squeaky beans’ almandine he makes are pretty tasty. Alas I am still haunted by my childhood days when we were served limp, anaemic canned beans hot out of the microwave as part of our daily intake of vegetables. And it is with that thought that I still cringe when David picks up yet another package of beans from the seed rack – a request for my ever expanding repertoire of bean cultivars being grown on our edible green roof.
But I acquiesce once again and my designer’s eye kicks in as the latest selection is beautiful purple bush bean cultivar called ‘Royal Burgundy.’ And from a designer’s point these purple beans will mix perfectly with our green heirloom ‘Contender’ Bush Beans and Yellow Butter Bush Beans. Unfortunately, most of the colour disappears when cooked; my husband has a cooking method which keeps the colours intact. Stay tuned for future blogs when the secret is revealed during our harvesting/cooking blogs.
The Skinny on Beans
Fresh beans are a moderate source of beta carotene, protein, dietary fibre, vitamin C, and carbohydrates. Some studies suggest that half a cup of beans per day has a cholesterol-lowering effect in many people. Beans also appear to have a blood sugar normalizing effect, and may be of benefit to diabetics. Lastly, beans make you feel full, and consumption of them may be of benefit in an individual weight loss program.
A Bean is a Bean or Is It?
Who’s who? A pole bean is one that climbs and requires some form of a trellis and a bush bean tends to be short and bush-like. The runner bean tends to be bush-like with three foot runners, a weedy appearance and not as popular for gardeners. All types can also be a snap bean or stingless bean (eaten whole - which the Royal Burgundy bush bean falls into this category), a shelling bean (the green seeds are cooked like fresh peas), or a dry bean, (harvested when pods are dry with seeds soaked and cooked like navy beans).
Heirloom Phaseolus vulgaris ‘Royal Burgundy’ Information You Need to Know
Botanical name: Phaseolus vulgaris
Common Name: Royal Burgundy Bush Bean
Country of Origin: Most of the kinds commonly eaten fresh come from the Americas thousands of years ago.
Description: Purple pods about 5-6” long on a bush form which maxes out at about 1.5 – 2’ tall.
Best harvested: Pick 5-6” pods for best taste. Whole pod is cooked.
Time to Plant: April 1 (after first frost) and plant every 2 weeks as bush beans produce one major crop at one time
Where to Sow and Grow: Outdoors in full sun and put under cloches to mitigate late spring frosts and keeping birds out.
Space: 10cm (4”) apart.
Maturity: 60 Days
Tip: Poor germination results from planting too early in cold soil (over 60 degrees optimal for germination). Pick every 5 to 7 days or plant will stop producing if pods are allowed to mature.
Uses: Raw, almandine, additives to soups, tempura style and four our dog who is highly allergic to everything!
Place in Square Foot Garden: On my edible green roof right next to my Peas (see below).
Companion Planting: 'Chiooga' beets Cabbage family, 'Dragon' Carrots, 'Green Utah' celery, Corn, Armenian Cucumbers, 'Fairytale' Eggplant, Heirloom Leaf Lettuce, Marigold, 'Snowflake' Pea, Potato, 'French Breakfast' Radish, Rosemary, Strawberry, Savoury, Tansy, Marigold
