Hancock's Bush Bean Seed

An “old-timey” traditional favorite, Blue Lake Bush 274 Beans, are perfect to add to any food plot mix or kitchen table!  Most commonly grown for over 40 years as a staple in farm-to-table cuisine. You will no doubt enjoy this flavorful “stringless” bean.  This is THE bean known for canning, pickling and freezing. Dependable, plump, tender and dark green pods grow on 16 in. bushes. While these beans do have a firm texture, they develop slowly so the 6-6.5 in. pods stay smooth.  Many prefer to pick them young and tender. On the farm we have been known to eat them right off the vine! This variety produces a heavy crop over a long season grown in full sun.

Product Information

• Application or Use: Vegetable, Food Plot
• Germination Time: 5 - 7 days, under optimal conditions
• Growing Locations: Warm Season, Transition Zone, Cool Season
• Height: Up to 2 feet
• Sunlight Requirements: 8+ hours, full sun for best results
• Advantages: The bean known for canning, pickling, and freezing.
• When to Plant: Recommended planting time is spring, summer and fall when night time temperatures are consistently 65+ degrees.

Bush beans are a good choice if you want your crop to be ready almost all at once for canning or freezing. A succession of bush beans plantings will give you a higher yield continuously through the season.

*Product packaging may appear different than what is pictured. 

Planting and Spacing

Sow beans 1 to 1.5 in. deep. Plant bush beans 3 to 4 in. apart; set rows 18 to 24 in. Thin strong seedlings from 4 to 6 in. apart. Remove weaker seedlings by cutting them off at soil level with a scissors, being careful not to disturb the roots of other seedlings.  Bean can be crowded; they will use each other for support.

Watering and Fertilizing

Grow beans in soil that is evenly moist. Bean seeds may crack and germinate poorly if the soil moisture is too high at sowing. Do not soak seeds in advance of planting and do not over-water after sowing. Keep the soil evenly moist during flowering and pod formation. Rain or overhead irrigation during flowering can cause flowers and small pods to fall off. Once the soil temperature averages greater than 60°F, mulch to conserve moisture.  Germination occurs in 10-12 days.

Beans are best fertilized with aged garden compost; they do not require extra nitrogen. Beans set up a mutual exchange with soil microorganisms called nitrogen-fixing bacteria, which produces the soil nitrogen beans require. Avoid using green manures or nitrogen-rich fertilizers in advance of planting beans.

Harvest

Bush beans will be ready for harvest 55 to 60 days after sowing. Pick green or snap beans when pods are still immature, about 3 in. long, or just before they begin to bulge and grow plump. Continue to pick pods before they become mature so that the plant will continue flowering and producing new pods. When seeds mature, the plant will die.

Instructions

When choosing to start a new lawn, remove old vegetation by using a de-thatcher, power rake or tiller to kill the existing vegetation. Rake or drag the area to remove debris and dead grass for a clean area. Ensure the soil is leveled and loosened to allow the seed to have good soil contact once spread on a clean seed bed.

If you have an area with heavy weed coverage, we recommend starting fresh by killing and removing the existing vegetation. If you choose to use chemicals, herbicides or fertilizers, you must check with the product's manufacturer prior to planting new seed to ensure the proper waiting period.

When overseeding an existing area, mow your lawn at the lowest setting and bag the clippingsx. Rake or drag any areas that have dead thatch or debris.