Bush beans generally are beans that grow as a short bushy plant and are usually small in growth usually two feet tall or less. They are not only known for their great taste but also for their ease of planting and cultivation. Learn how to grow bush beans.
They also have lot of usefulness to mankind and livestock. Bush bean comes along with a lot of different varieties, though most of us are not familiar with the different varieties. However, there are different types of bush beans based on their cultivars.
These varieties can also be seen in their taste, a few of them in their uniqueness and looks because they come in varieties of colors such as yellow, black, white, purple, green, etc. Bush bean types can be categorized majorly on the basis of use which are:
- Snap bush beans
- Shell bush beans
Dry bush beans
1) SNAP BUSH BEAN: Snap beans are usually harvested while they are still immature which is to say that they are eaten fresh. They are of different types such as:
I) Blue lake bush
They are short bush plants and are also known as stringless snap beans. They originate from the 1900’s heirloom pole bean ‘blue lake”. They are easy to plant and grow annually. They produce their harvests within a week.
They thrive best under full sun and grows to about 2 feet. They have great resistance to the mosaic virus. They begin to produce in roughly about 45 to 60 days. When harvesting them, snap the beans from the plant in order not to damage them, they also grow well in light organic and well-drained soil. It is the most commonly used in the canning industry because it produces all its harvest at once.
Related: Pole Beans Vs Bush Beans – Which One To Plant And Grow?
II) Contender
This is another type of bush bean. They are open-pollinated bush bean and produces faster than most bush beans. These stringless snap bush beans produce heavily irrespective of the cold or hot weather which makes them superb for planting for cold-short periods.
Their pods are bout 5-6 inches long and are also stringless. They are also resistant to mosaic virus. They are usually round and oval in shape. These plants also serve well for farmers especially in the northern climates of the world.
They also grow well in good and well-drained soil. They are also early bean plants and are heat tolerant. They normally grow into strong, hardy plants. They can be harvested daily as this encourages more production for the bean plant.
2) SHELL BUSH BEANS: They are usually harvested during the mid-stage of maturity and usually have strong and tough pods. Examples under these are:
I) Lima beans
These bush cultivars mature earlier than their pole cultivars. They can be oval to kidney-shaped and their color varies from black, orange, red, and sometimes mottled seeds. They are herbaceous in nature and are known to exist in different parts of the world.
They are tender annual that grows to about 2 feet tall and bear small seeds faster than their pole counterparts. Their examples include caked butter beans, butter beans e.t.c. They are usually ready for harvest from 60-80 days. They also grow well in loose well-drained soil. Bush lima beans also grow well in containers.
Related: How To Grow Pole Beans On A Trellis
II) Fava bush bean plant
They are bushy bean plants that grow uprightly and are also known as broad beans though they are native to the Mediterranean. They are also one of the oldest grown plants. They share the same similarities with the Lima beans.
The most common variety is the broad Windsor bean and the dwarf fava bean e.t.c. They have a lot of species and in some parts of the world, they are normally grown as crops for food, while in some other parts they are grown as poultry food and as cover crops. They are cool weather plants. When they have been harvested, the remnants can be used as compost.
Also, they help to enrich the soil with its nitrogen properties. They are all-around beneficial crops to mankind. They need cool weather and don’t thrive well in hot weather. They have thick pods or skin and this should be removed before cooking.
3) DRY BUSH BEANS: They are not usually harvested until they have reached full maturation. They are quite easy to grow and need more season to dry in their pods. Examples of these bush bean types are:
I) Black calypso bush dry bean
These particular plants adapt well to diverse environments. Their color makes them unique and can be seen in various colors of black and white patches. They need about 6 hours of sunlight daily. They can be planted in early spring. They are also known as Yin yang or Orca because of their unique black and white color. They are to be harvested after their pods are completely mature and dry.
II) Green Nothern bush dry bean
They are flat and kidney shaped and warm weather plants. They are quite easy to grow and maintain. They are known for their popularity among the varieties of dry beans. The bean grows well in Northern climates of the world.
Their maturity days range from 90 to 100 days of growth before cultivating them as dry beans. The seeds should be directly planted into the soil when the risk of frost has passed. They are also highly productive. They should be harvested when the leaves have turned brown and the pods are dry. They also grow well in light well drained soil.
Conclusion
I hope you find this article helpful. I would like to hear from you. So, let me know if you have any questions about the types of bush beans. If you want to try growing pole beans, read our step by step guide on how to grow pole beans here.
