Botanical Interests - Trio Bush Bean Seeds

The snap bean (or green bean) is eaten pod and all and tastes significantly better when grown at home rather than bought at the grocery store. The three varieties in this packet are bush type beans, which means that they require no staking and produce most of their crop over a 2 to 3 week period. Packet includes: 'Blue Lake 274', an heirloom favorite, noted for excellent flavor and texture, fresh or frozen (white seed); 'Resistant Cherokee Wax', a vigorous plant producing bright yellow pods (black seed); and 'Purple Queen', with glossy deep purple pods that turn forest green when cooked (brown seed).

Snap beans are ready to pick when the pod "snaps" or breaks in half cleanly. This is when the seeds have just begun to form and the pods are several inches long (depending on the variety). Hold the stem with one hand, and the pod with the other hand to avoid pulling off branches, which will continue to produce. At season's end, plants are great compost material if they are disease-free.