Document text
Sections Home Page Local News AP News Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Since We Asked Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Readers Choice 2006 Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Our Valley Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend June 15, 2006 Raising beans? Check out 1914 book This month is a good time to plant a few string beans for the table — to eat now or to blanch and pop into the freezer for a winter treat. You can plant pole and bush beans every two weeks through July and get a harvest into October, depending on the variety and how soon frost hits. Average first frost is Oct. 17. Beans have always been a favorite of vegetable gardeners. Although popular varieties change, we're still growing pretty much the same things in our gardens that would have been quite familiar to Mrs. Ida D. Bennett, author of "The Vegetable Garden," published in 1914. She wrote "Beans are a tender class of vegetables, and the seed of any varieties should not be planted out until the nights and soil are warm. "Usually the middle of May at the North will be found to be quite early enough. In cold, wet soil the seed will decay instead of growing, while the opposite is true where the seed is given a warm location and a warm, sandy soil. The soil should be deeply prepared and well enriched with old manure." The same advice applies today. Advertisement She said: "The seed of bush varieties should be sown in drills, 2 feet apart, and the beans dropped 2 inches apart in the row and covered 2 inches deep, treading down the earth after planting. "If the beans are to be used for string beans or fresh shell beans, they may be planted every two weeks for a succession. Beans should not, for best results, be planted in a low, wet place or in too much shade. They must not be worked or handled when wet, as this will cause them to mildew. Therefore a warm, sunny position, where they will dry quickly in the morning, is best." Those are still good recommendations for growing beans. In addition to manure you could use compost and some other balanced fertilizer; and it's not a good idea to "tread" upon your garden beds and compact the soil. Just press seeds into the soil with your hand. Also, you'll get a greater yield in less space by using wide row spacing such as is recommended in "Square Foot Gardening" by Mel Bartholomew. Space beans 9 plants per square foot, or 4 inches apart in all directions. I have better germination rates by soaking the seeds overnight or for several hours in warm water, and then dusting them with a legume inoculant before planting. Coming up Have fun learning how to safely make low-sugar, no-sugar and regular jams and jellies. Certified Family Food Education volunteers at the Oregon State University Extension Center will teach techniques from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday in the auditorium, 569 Hanley Road. A $5 materials fee will be collected at the class. Register by calling 776-7371. North Mountain Park Nature Center is sponsoring the third annual "Naturescaping" garden tour in the Phoenix/Ashland area. This tour of six gardens is to demonstrate how to create wildlife-friendly habitat in your yard. It takes place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 24. Tickets with maps may be purchased at the Nature Center and other outlets. Call 488-6606 for more information or visit their Web site at " target="_blank">www.ashland.or.us/northmountainpark. Sams Valley gardener Joyce Schillen is author of "The Growing Season." Her e-mail address is joyceschillen@msn. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems California Casinos Men's Clothing Southern Oregon Loans --> GMAT Prep Fundraisers Send Flowers Texas Electric Choice Entertainment Guide --> Casinos Canada Trunks, Footlocker Online Casino Reviews Advertisement s Advertisement