Green Bean Season

Pole beans are one of the few edibles I grow in my garden.  I grow them because I love green beans -- nothing tastes like a fresh green bean -- and they are so easy to grow.  I have tried several varieties of pole beans, but I always come back to my favorite, Kentucky Wonder.  They are prolific, tasty and -- for the most part -- problem free.

I got a late start this year with my green beans, so my harvest is just beginning now.  Normally, the season would be in full swing.

This year, we had a pest problem with the beans -- rabbits.  The rabbits normally leave the beans alone once the plants are too tall for the rabbits to strip the leaves from the upper portions of the plant.  But this year, the rabbits chopped off six of my eighteen plants just above the ground, killing the plants entirely.  That's 2/3 of my planting!

Fortunately, I discovered the problem and got fencing around the plants quickly.  The remaining plants are doing well and starting to produce.  I have picked several handfuls already and used a few in meals.

Usually, I freeze several bags of green beans for winter enjoyment.  I prefer them over store-bought frozen green beans.  I'm hopeful that I will have enough to freeze this year.  Fingers crossed.