How to Plant Blue Lake Bush Green Beans

Check to make sure that the last frost date for your area has passed. Blue Lake bush beans are a warm-weather crop. Don't plant them until the soil is warm and certain to stay that way. A soil temperature of at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit is recommended.

Till the soil thoroughly to a depth of at least 6 inches. Be sure all growing weeds are completely destroyed. Use a rototiller or a shovel and hoe to work the soil.

Plant seeds an inch deep if the soil is heavy. Plant seeds 1.5 inches deep in lighter, sandy soil. Allow four inches between the individual plants in each row. Space rows 18 to 24 inches apart.

Water the soil at the base of the plant thoroughly. A good soaking helps the seeds to open completely and is helpful to the growing process once the seeds are in the soil.

Repeat the planting process every two weeks for the first part of the growing season. This ensures that you will have a steady supply of Blue Lake bush beans, as the old beans fade and the new beans mature.

Remove weeds on a regular basis. You must be careful not to injure the bean plants when you weed, but because of their shallow root system bush beans cannot tolerate competition from weeds and grasses.

Harvest beans as they become ripe. Do not allow the pods to get too large or they will not be as good to eat. Young beans may be used raw in salads, and older beans may be cooked alone or in soups, stews and other dishes.