TWENTY-ONE VEGETABLES - Start a Community Food Garden - page 127

Start Don't plant beans too early, they are a summer crop. Green bean seeds will germinate only when
the soil is warm and they are in full sun. Sow seeds every 2 to 3 weeks for a continuous yield.
Grow Decent garden soil amended with organic matter is all that is needed for good bean production.
Do not add supplemental fertilizer, it is not necessary and will delay fruiting. For pole beans, set up a
trellis or teepee of bamboo before planting. Bush beans do not need trellising. Plant seeds 1 inch deep
and 2 inches apart. Water early in the day and avoid wetting the foliage.
Harvest Pick beans at the immature stage, before the seeds inside have fully developed. Use scissors or
snips to avoid tearing the plant. Check bean plants every other day and pick beans before pods mature,
to ensure steady production.
Store and Serve Beans hold up best when stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. They will
stay fresh for about 4 days. To keep longer, steam them for 2 minutes and freeze immediately. Beans
are good for canning and pickling, two other methods for stretching an abundant crop.
The vitamins and minerals found in green beans are best retained when they are steamed for no
more than 5 minutes.
KALE
Brassica oleracea var. acephala
Kale is a cold-hardy, resilient plant. The flavor differs depending on when it is harvested. Mild-tasting
in spring, kale leaves may turn bitter in hot weather, while frost sweetens the taste of these antioxidant-
rich greens. Multiple varieties are available, with various leaf shapes and colors.
Start Plant kale transplants in a sunny, well-drained spot early in the season. If sowing seeds, work com-
post into the soil and plant seeds ½ inch deep. Kale is a good crop to plant early in spring and late in
the summer. Transplants or seeds grow best when planted a foot apart with 24 inches between rows or
4 per square foot for intensive spacing.
Grow Keep plants well watered; kale likes moist soil. Mulch under leaves to keep them from touching
the ground and rotting. Pick off any withered leaves.
Harvest Harvest kale leaves before they are too old and tough. Start by cutting leaves from the outside
when the plant is about 8 inches high. When the entire plant is cut 2 inches above the soil, the plant will
sprout new leaves in about 2 weeks. Remove and discard any brown leaves.