Vegetable Garden - String Beans
Keep Picking those String Beans!
Strings beans are very easy to grow. I tried growing them in containers wondering if they'll grow and it was a success! The pole string beans need a trellis to climb but the bush string beans don't. I made a trellis with poles and weaved criss cross lines with cotton string for the plants to climb. They do need extra watering when growing in a container. Don't let the soil dry out and keep the soil moist always. Now I have beautiful, fresh, and delicious string beans.
Blue Lake Stringless Pole Bean
Delicious and easy to grow. Pick them all season long. The more you pick… the more they’ll grow.
Growing Tips
Easy to grow
From seed to harvest is about two months and then all season long. Just keep picking them!
Tolerates shade
Plant anytime from Spring to late Fall
One seed grows one plant with many string beans
Can start seed indoors and transplant
Plant them four to six inches apart in the garden
Plant one plant in a two or three gallon container
Plant two plants in a three or five gallon container
Plant needs at least eight inches deep for the roots to grow
Harvest when string bean is two or more inches long
Fertilize once a month
Harvesting Blue Lake Pole String Beans
Here is an easy and delicious way to cook string beans:
You can snack on the string beans fresh right from the garden.
You can blanch and freeze them.
Canning them is a another way to preserve extras.
You can cook, fry, or steam the string beans.
Easy Fresh String Beans
Ingredients
2 cups fresh String Beans
1 or 2 cloves fresh Garlic - sliced or minced
1 or 2 Tbsp Olive Oil (can use Vegetable Oil)
1 cup Water
Salt to desired taste
Black Pepper to desired taste
Red Pepper Flakes to desired taste
Optional Ingredients to Add
2 Tbsp sliced Almonds
2 Tbsp crisped fried Onions (store bought or homemade)
Directions
In a bowl, rinse the string beans and cut the stems off. You can cut string beans in uniform size or keep them whole uncut.
In a deep pot or steamer, add water. Only about an inch of water is needed in the pot.
Then in the same pot of water, add the olive oil, string beans, garlic and seasonings. Cover and cook or steam about 15 minutes until string beans are soft. Stir the string beans to mix and coat the beans with the olive oil and garlic for delicious flavor.
The almonds or fried onions can be added before serving. Serve and enjoy!
You can use more or less of these ingredients for your own desired taste.
Easy Crisped Fried Onions
Ingredients
2 large Yellow Onions sliced thin (or any other type of onion)
1 cup Milk (or Buttermilk)
2 cups All Purpose Flour (or Corn Flour)
Vegetable Oil for frying
Seasoned Salt to desired taste
Any Seasoning you like - black pepper, Creole, red pepper, etc.
Directions
In a bowl, soak sliced onions in milk for five minutes or more.
In another bowl, mix flour, salt, pepper, and any other seasonings.
Add a few sliced onions in the flour mix and coat. Repeat until all sliced onions are coated with flour. Let it sit for about ten minutes.
In large pan or deep fryer, add oil and heat until hot.
Add a few coated sliced onions at a time and cook a few minutes until browned. Repeat until all onions are fried. Drain on paper towels.
Season with more salt or your favorite seasoning.
Then add on top of your cooked string beans and enjoy!
You can use more or less of these ingredients for your own desired taste.
Additional Tips:
Extras can be stored in sealed container or zip lock bag for a few days.
To crisp back up, reheat in oven or toaster oven for about five minutes.
