Kitchen King beans are easy to grow and container friendly! This bush bean variety produces an abundance of dark green pods that attract bees to your garden.
Sow seeds in spring for an early summer harvest and enjoy tender snap beans by mid-June or July. Each garden bean measures 4–5 inches. Best eaten steamed or stir-fried.
Beans are a warm season crop. Sow seeds directly outdoors in a sunny location after danger of last frost, spring to early summer. In rows 18–30 inches apart, sow seeds about three inches apart and cover with one inch of fine soil. Firm lightly and keep evenly moist until seedlings emerge. Thin to stand about 6 inches apart once seedlings reach a height of 2 inches. Harvest tender pods frequently to keep plants producing.
Garden beans are picked young and tender before the seeds inside have fully developed. Pick garden beans every day; the more you pick, the more beans grow. Look for firm, sizable beans that are firm and can be snapped—generally as thick as a pencil. Snap or cut the beans off the plant, being careful not to tear the plant.
Saving bean seed is easy! Leave pods on the plants and harvest once they have hardened and dried out. Crack open the shells by hand, or stomp pods on a tarp if difficult to break. Separate seeds from chaff and store in a cool, dark place for up to three years. To ensure true-to-type seed, separate varieties by 30 feet in the garden.