Garden Green Beans

I am a big fan of the eat local and farm to table movement. I love going to the local Farmers Markets for fresh produce and interesting and unique products not available anywhere else. Check out my previous post where I did a cooking demo at the Warren Farmers Market. My family, I guess, are trend setters because my parents always had a big garden which we enjoyed eating veggies from,  especially green beans.

I have dabbled at gardening but I struggle at it. My first garden at my old house was enjoyed by a family of ground hogs. At my current house, I have two small raised beds each about 4×8 feet. This year I have asparagus (due to be harvested for the first time next year!), tomatoes, green bell peppers, zucchini, and of course green beans.

When to Plant Green Beans

This spring I planted the green beans in two batches about two weeks apart. The seeds I planted mature in 50 days so I planted them Memorial Day weekend and they were ready just after July 4th. I will be planting another batch soon so that I have one more batch around Labor Day. It is easy to think about planting around the summer holidays here in Northeastern Ohio!

When to Pick Green Beans

Pick them when they are about 3 inches long and the bean inside the hull makes a bump

 

How to Clean Green Beans

Simply snap off each end of the bean and then snap them into two or three pieces. Rinse them with water in a colander. Here is my mom cleaning a batch yesterday.

How to Boil Green Beans

Put your beans in a medium size sauce pot and cover with plenty of water. Add two pats of butter and bring to boil for 10 minutes. The beans will be tender but still with a little crunch.

How to Eat Green Beans

My favorite is simply with a pat of butter. Enjoy!