Initial Plant Research

Initial Plant Research

My plants: mint and green beans

A little bit about our Climate Zone here in San Diego from Sunset Magazine Online: “ZONE 24. Marine-dominated Southern California Coast 
Growing season: all year, but periodic freezes have dramatic effects (record lows are 33 degrees to 20 degrees F/1 degree to -7 degrees C). Climate here is oceanic (but warmer than oceanic Zone 17), with cool summers, mild winters. Subtropical plants thrive.”

Mint (Mentha): This herb is a native to the Mediterranean and grows like weeds because of their underground stems. They can be grown in pots or planter boxes. Mint will grow almost anywhere but will do the best with lots of full to partial sun, moist, medium-rich soil, and of course water. Mint might disappear in the winter, so replant about every 3 years.

-Grown from seeds

Green beans (snap bean): Being a vegetable, green beans are “frost-sensitive heat lovers”.

-Grown from seeds

-Soil temp. 65-70 degrees F, fresh and fertile soil

To grow-

Step 1: Moisten soil a lot before planting and don’t water again till seedlings have emerged from the soil.

Step 2: Once you see growth, keep the soil very moist and make sure to fertilize the soil after the plants start to grow and again when pods start to form.

These may grow as “self-supporting bushes (bush beans) or as climbing vines (pole beans).” Vines seem to be more productive. For pole beans,

set three or four 8-ft. poles in the ground and tie together at top; or set single poles 3-4 ft. apart and sow six or eight beans around each, thinning to three or four strongest seedlings; or insert poles 1-2 ft. apart in rows and sow seeds as you would bush beans; or sow along sunny wall, fence, or trellis and train vines on web of light string supported by wire or heavy twine. Pods are ready in 50 to 70 days, depending on variety. Pick every 3 to 5 days; if pods mature, plants will stop bearing.

*All research from: Sunset Magazine Online and Green Beans N’ More

http://www.greenbeansnmore.com/how-to-grow-green-beans.html http://www.sunset.com/garden/