Encyclopedia of Vegetables

(Beans-Broccoli) (Brussels Sprouts-Cauliflower)  (Celery-Lettuce) (Onion-Tomato)   

Beans

Characteristics: Beans are easy to grow, take up little space and produce a large amount of crop for the time investment.  Varieties include pole and bush beans. Bush beans grow faster and are good for successive plantings, while pole beans are slower but produce a bountiful  crop.

Planting: Beans like a sunny, well drained spot. Plant bush beans in rows 2-21/2 feet apart with seeds placed 2-3 inches apart. Plant pole beans in hills 2-3 feet apart with 4-5 seeds. Thin to 3 plants per hill. 

Care: Fertilize beans when they are 4-6 inches high. Use mulch to keep soil consistently moist.

Harvest: Bean plants stop producing once the bean pods develop seeds. Pick before the pods have visible seeds bulges.

Bush Beans, Blue Lake 274 Henry Fields Seed and Nursery Co

Beets

Characteristics: Many varieties. Choose the variety that suits your taste and climate conditions. Both tops and roots of the plant can be eaten

Planting: Plant as soon as the ground can be worked. Because the beet seed is actually a fruit cluster, no matter how far you space the seeds you will get many beets growing close to one another.  Space rows about 14 inches apart then thin the spaces within the row to 4-6 inches when the plants are 5 inches tall.

Care: Water heavily and pick quickly. Use mulch to keep the soil consistently moist. Keep meticulously weed free to protect the edible root. 

Harvest: Pick when the roots have grown to 2-3 inches. Store in a cool, dark place.

Beets, Detroit Dark Red Henry Fields Seed and Nursery Co

Broccoli

Characteristics: Many varieties. Broccoli does well in the garden so trial and error with different varieties is a good idea to find out which works best for you.

Planting: Start seed indoors 4-6 weeks before planting. Get seedlings outdoors as soon as the threat of frost has passed. Space plants 2 feet apart with at least 20 inches between plants.

Care: Requires lots of water. Mulch to keep the soil consistently moist.

Harvest: Pick before the yellow flowers develop. Cut the buds and inch or two down the stalk.

Broccoli, Emperor Hybrid Henry Fields Seed and Nursery Co