A bean cycle

Beans are little pods of potential. Sorted in that hard little shell is everything required to start life again & give, give, give.

Some people will soak their bean seeds for a few hours (or overnight) to accelerate their journey. As once they’ve absorbed a fair amount of water, that protective coat cracks open, an ‘anchor’ grows downwards to hold them fast and then the upwards journey begins.

They’re happiest in full sun, and I’ve just planted another succession of these nitrogen fixers. Here in coastal NSW, an hour+ south of Sydney - our winters are barely dips in the temperature, so I’m going to trial growing them through autumn too.

Once these string beans start setting pods, you can just pick and pick and pick. I’ve found cutting them off with sharp scissor or secateurs best, minimises any damage to the plant. As there is so much winged wildlife in these parts, I’ve found netting them early gives the beans the best chance in life. (Otherwise every creature comes along to feast on the tender young leaves as they emerge.)

As all good things must eventually come to an end, I cut the plant off at soil level, leaving the whole root system there to continue to feed the life beneath the surface.

Wondering what they taste like? My favourite would have to be; top & tail the beans, blanch them & then give a lightening quick stirfry in butter that’s have garlic sizzling away - YUUUUUUUM!