Another great variety, especially if you are looking for ornamental value, is ‘Red Russian,’ which has a mild taste and pink-ribbed, bluish-gray foliage. Plant bean seeds after the soil has warmed. Pole beans should be planted about six inches apart; bush beans can be planted three to four inches apart. You will need to provide a trellis if you plan to grow pole beans, which will reach six feet tall or more. Keep them evenly moist, and harvest the beans when they are thin and tender. Be sure to harvest regularly. Both bush and pole beans are prolific, and you may well end up with more than you can use. Luckily, beans freeze well! For a different change of pace, try growing heirloom ‘Lemon’ cucumbers, which grow to lemon-sized yellow-striped fruits. They’re delicious and look great in a salad.
