Phaseolus vulgaris 'Shining Fardenlosa'

Annual climbing bean growing to a height of 2m.

This climbing runner bean variety produces white pea-like fragrant flowers followed by long shiny bright green pods produced on the climbing plant with leaves made up of 3 leaflets arranged in an alternate fashion on the stem.

For best results grow in full sun with well-draining soil. Beans are frost tender so only plant outside after frosts have passed.

Healthy soil is essential for producing vitamin and mineral-rich vegetables. The use of ample organic material is fundamental to the success of most vegetable gardens, especially those newly created on sandy or clay soils. Organic material provides food for plants especially nitrogen and phosphorus; sandy soils are improved because the humus holds more water and clay soils are made more easily workable. Organic material for vegetable gardens is traditionally provided by using farm manure mixed with straw or compost. This can be mixed into the soil but a no-dig philosophy is preferable allowing the organic material to breakdown and incorporate into the soil with time. A green manure crop is another useful way of both improving the soil structure and providing nutrients. Plants such as mustard, peas and buckwheat are grown thickly, then when mature, are dug into the soil providing nitrogen and other nutrients as they rot. The addition of a general purpose fertiliser containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium will encourage plant growth and should be applied at the specified rate prior to planting. Two of the more popular organic fertilisers are blood and bone and sheep pellets. Lime should also be applied to the soil every few seasons to sweeten and improve the soil structure as well as create a balance of nutrients.

When soil preparation is complete the vegetable garden should be weed free and of a stable aerated nature. Weed control through to harvesting can be achieved by mulching with organic materials such as straw stable manure or untreated sawdust. Alternatively, cultivation using a Dutch or push hoe will discourage weeds from establishing. Careful plant spacing will also help to suppress weeds. The growing season for many spring and summer vegetables can be extended by planting in a glasshouse or under a cloche.

Most vegetables are easily grown from seed and many varieties can be sown directly into the prepared garden. Corn, beans, peas and carrots are all examples of directly sown vegetables. Brassicas and leaf crops are best sown into shallow trays or punnets to germinate then transplanted individually at an early stage into a deeper tray or small containers. When the young plants are strong plant them in the vegetable garden. Better results are obtained by planting during cooler periods such as the cool of the evening in summer or an overcast day to avoid wilting. To ensure a continual supply of produce small successive sowings are recommended.

Beans will require support so will need a frame covered in wire netting erecting ready for them to grow up. Once they have support, they will not need much else to help them grow through the season other than keeping the soil moist.

When the time arrives it is important to harvest vegetables at their peak. The best time of the day to pick the crop is early in the morning when the weather is cooler. Vegetables such as beans, courgettes and tomatoes benefit from regular harvesting throughout the growing season to encourage further production. Proper planning and cultivation should ensure that a continuous supply of produce is available. It is likely that there will be a surplus so by storing the crop carefully there is little wastage.

Crop rotation can assist in maintaining the fertility of the soil and ensuring the soil remains in balance. This is achieved by rotating different categories of vegetables in a plot of land throughout a cycle of seasons.

Generally, vegetables can be divided into three groups for crop rotation:
1) root and leaf crops including carrots, potatoes, radishes, parsnips, beetroot, yams, silverbeet, spinach and lettuce
2) vine crops and brassicas including tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, cabbages, cauliflowers and kale 3) legumes and alliums including garlic, onions, peas, beans and shallots.

Proper crop rotation will ensure that at any one time one of these three varieties monopolises an area of ground. Root crops, such as potatoes, can break and loosen the deep soil while legumes will add nitrogen from the air to the soil. Different plants will add or take nutrients to or from the soil at different rates. In addition, crop rotation can help counteract pests and control disease.

It is important to consider that most of the plants grown in the vegetable garden are produced to be eaten so it is preferable to avoid the application of chemical sprays to control pests and diseases. Correct cultivation and strict weed control are key to ensure that garden pests are kept to a minimum. Companion planting is also a good option and involves placing certain plants beside each other to discourage disease and pests. These companion plants often emit aromatic odours that discourage insects or alternatively attract beneficial insects such as bees. Mixtures of plants have proven to be more pest-resistant than large blocks of a single crop. Examples of companion plants include mint and cabbage the mint deterring the cabbage white butterfly and parsley protecting tomato and asparagus from aphids. Many heirloom varieties of vegetables are naturally more resistant to disease and insect damage so the planting of these varieties is preferable. If on occasions an infestation occurs an application of an eco-friendly spray is advisable. For example, an onion spray can be made by blending one large onion with 1 litre of water at a slow speed to a milky consistency. Strain and use as an undiluted spray to discourage insects. Another option is to dissolve one tablespoon of baking soda in 1 litre of water. Add 1/2 tsp of household detergent and use as a spray to prevent powdery mildew.

Annual