Information for ingredient: kidney bean (brown)

Fresh beans straight from the garden...

into your kitchen is a true treat. The freshness of peas and sugar snaps can really bring together your summer salad or stir-fry.

Two main types of bean-growths can be recognized: Low bushy and and tall climbers. In both cases the plants start growing in early to late spring, and for some hardy species the first beans can be picked as early as late March (North-Western Europe).

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Beans do not like a lot of moisture. Make sure you sow the beans directly on the spot where you would like them, in a nice sunny week. If you plant the beans in a wet cold week, you will loose most of your plants within the first few days: The beans will just rot away. If it is really dry and wamr, consider soaking the beans in water for a few hours before planting, and water once a day in the evening. The young plants should start appearing within 4-7 days after sowing; Realy good conditions may even have the first beans appearing after as short as 2 days.

Beans can be harvested when they pods have started to fill, but before they start to turn yellow. Harvest frequently, as this stimulates the plant to keep flowering.

When you have had enough beans for the year, let the last batch of beans turn yellow, and harvest when the pods are dry. Store cool and dry: This will be your next years' planting material.

Beans store for a few weeks when refrigerated. However,it is better to store them in the freezer. To do this, blanch the beans, and toss them in a cold freezer. At low (-10 Celsius or colder) the beans will keep for months.

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