Planting Beans – Utilizing Space! Since we only have a limited area to plant we want to take advantage of all the space we have and also manage weeds. A good rule to follow is that full canopy of growing plants is one of the best ways to out-compete weeds. In turf, we would say a lush healthy lawn is the best way to control weeds. This is true of gardens, as well. In our case, we are planting a row of beans in the approximately 1 ft. of space between our fabric strips. We have three such narrow spaces to plant. In these spaces, we are planting a full row of Fordhook 242 Lima Beans, a half row of Trilogy Snap Beans (a combination of Purple, Yellow, & Green), a half row of Okra (Burgundy Purple & Clemson Spineless), a half row of a Korean Sweet Potatoes and a half row of Yukon Gold Potatoes. Our fertilization stategy is to make a surface application of Osmocote fertilizer combined with periodic applications of Miracle Gro fertilizer diluted with water and applied over the rows. Osmocote is a slow release fertilizer which releases nutrients over about 90 days depending on temperature and moisture conditions. Miracle Gro contains plant nutrients that are immediately available to the plant and also contains secondary and micronutrients that are necessary for plant growth. The combination of the two fertilizers should get the plants off to good start and reduce the need for future applications while they grow, flower, and produce beans, tubers, and pods.
Planting Beans!