Red beans, also known as kidney beans due to their kidney-like shape, are popular with children and adults alike. They are used in salads, Mexican dishes and stews. Below you will find out how to plant the delicious floury beans in your own garden.
How to plant red beans in your own garden?
Red beans can be sown directly outdoors in late May to early June. Choose a sunny to partially shaded, wind-protected location with humus-rich, calcareous and warm soil. The beans should be planted 6-8cm apart and hilled slightly if necessary.
The most important things at a glance:
- Sowing date: end of May
- Planting distance: 6 to 8cm
- Location: sunny to partially shaded, sheltered from the wind
- Soil: calcareous, rich in humus, warm
- Care: mound lightly, water regularly
Kidneybohnen im Garten erfolgreich anbauen
When can red beans be grown?
Beans like it warm and should therefore not be sown too early. A good guideline date is the Ice Saints at the end of May. Since no more frosts are expected after this important date in the gardening year, you can sow your sensitive red beans directly outdoors at the end of May or beginning of June.
Tip
If you want to sow earlier and therefore harvest earlier, you have the following options:
- Prefer kidney beans on the windowsill and plant the plants at the end of May
- Put red beans in the cold frame at the beginning of May
- Plant red beans in raised beds at the beginning of May and protect them from frost with mulch
The key information for sowing red beans
Red beans are sown at a distance of 6 to 8 cm so that the plants have enough space. The beans need sun to grow well and a humus-rich, calcareous soil that is as warm as possible. In addition, the delicate plants break off easily, which is why you should look for a location protected from the wind. Red beans are bush beans and do not need any climbing aid. However, to prevent them from breaking off, you can pile up the young plants.
Pile up red beans
In order to give the kidney beans additional support, it is advisable to pile up the young plants. Proceed as follows:
- When the plants are 15cm to 25cm high, use a hoe to carefully loosen the soil around the plant
- Use your hands to pile up the soil around the stem of the red bean.
- The pile can be up to 5cm high.
You can find out more about piling up here.
When is harvest time for kidney beans?
Kidney beans have a development time of around three months, which means that if you sowed the red beans at the end of May, you can harvest them at the end of August.
Tip
Did you know that fruits are almost always good for the organs they look like? Kidney beans, from the English “kidney”=“kidney” are a benefit for our kidneys.
