Butter beans
Just like green beans, butter beans are a very popular vegetable in salads, as an accompaniment to meat and fish, or as a garnish for winter soups. It is part of the Fabaceae family. There are several varieties to satisfy the most greedy: the Valdor, the Fruidor, the Luminal, the Fructidor and the Stentor. Some are early, others not, that allows to spread out the harvest in time. It is easy to cultivate if we respect the conditions of sowing.
One plants it directly in full ground. You have the possibility of planting it in line or in staggered rows, i.e. in "poquets". You can plant the seeds and water them or let them soak a whole day before sowing them in your garden. The only conditions for a successful harvest are that there are no more frosts and that the soil has warmed up enough. On your calendar, you can circle the month of May because it is from this period that you can plant it in your vegetable garden. The butter bean appreciates sunny locations and light, moist soil. If your soil is too heavy, water sparingly, otherwise you risk seed rot.
You will need to hoe your plots often to prevent weeds from spreading. Also, be very careful with snails and slugs, which are particularly fond of the leaves of your plants. You will be able to harvest the fruit of your seedlings about 2 to 3 months after planting them.
Butter beans
- Type : Vegetables
- Subtype : Seed vegetables
- Botanical family : Fabaceae (papilionaceae / legumes)
Characteristics
- Lifecycle : Annual
- Exposure : Sun
- Hardiness : Not frost resistant
- Cultivation difficulty : Easy to grow, but requires regular maintenance (difficulty : 2/3)
- Adult height : 40 cm
Sowing & planting
- Sowing depth : 3 cm
- Plant spacing : 5 cm
- Row spacing : 40 cm
Maintenance
- Maintenance : Low
- Water requirements : Moderate