Beans 2026

The best time to grow runner beans is from late spring to early summer, once the soil has warmed up and all danger of frost has passed.   If you’ve been wondering when to grow runner beans, the short answer is simple: they’re warm-season crops that hate the cold.   Plant them too early and … Read more

The best time to grow green beans is after the last frost date in your area, once the soil has warmed up to at least 60°F.   Green beans are warm-season crops that absolutely hate the cold, so planting them too early is one of the most common mistakes home gardeners make.   If you’ve … Read more

The best time to direct sow beans is after your last frost date, once the soil has warmed to at least 60°F (15°C).   If you’ve been wondering when to direct sow beans, the short answer is simple: beans hate the cold, so you need to wait until the ground is genuinely warm.   Direct … Read more

The best time to add baking soda to beans is during the soaking phase or the initial cooking stage, not at the very end when they’re already soft.   If you’ve ever wondered when to add baking soda to beans while staring at a pot of stubborn, hard legumes that refuse to soften, you’re in … Read more

There are so many wonderful things you can do with vanilla beans, and once you discover how versatile they are, you’ll want to keep a few on hand at all times.   Vanilla beans are the pod-like fruit of certain orchids, and they’re packed with tiny seeds that hold incredible flavor.   If you’ve ever … Read more