Etna beans are a versatile, pink-seeded variety well-suited for soups, salads, and side dishes. Known for their quick cooking time and ability to absorb flavors, Etna beans have a smooth texture and a mild flavor. They are a great choice for home gardeners and cooks seeking a fast-cooking, adaptable bean with a pleasing taste and texture.
Key Features
- Quick Cooking: Convenient for fast meals.
- Mild Flavor: Blends well in a variety of dishes.
- Adaptable: Suitable for soups, salads, and sides.
Soup Bean Growing Guide
Outdoor Sowing (Directly in the Garden)
- Timing: Sow soup bean seeds outdoors after the last frost date, once the soil has warmed to at least 60°F, typically in late spring.
- Location: Choose a sunny spot with at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. Soup beans prefer well-draining, moderately fertile soil.
- Soil Preparation: Loosen the soil to a depth of 6-8 inches, incorporating compost or a balanced fertilizer to improve nutrient levels and drainage.
- Planting Seeds:
- For bush soup beans, sow seeds 1 inch deep, spacing them 3-4 inches apart in rows.
- For pole soup beans, sow seeds 1 inch deep, spacing them about 6 inches apart and provide a sturdy trellis or support structure, as pole varieties will climb.
- Space rows about 18-24 inches apart for adequate airflow and ease of harvesting.
- Thinning: Not necessary, as seeds are spaced for mature plants.
- Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist until germination, which typically takes 7-10 days. Once established, water evenly, providing about 1 inch per week, especially during flowering and pod development.
Indoor Sowing (Starting Seeds Indoors)
- Timing: Soup beans are generally sown directly outdoors. However, if starting indoors, sow seeds 2-3 weeks before the last frost date.
- Containers: Use deep pots to allow for root growth and minimize root disturbance during transplanting.
- Planting:
- Sow seeds 1 inch deep, placing 1 seed per pot.
- Cover lightly with soil mix and water gently.
- Germination:
- Maintain a temperature of 70-75°F for optimal germination.
- Expect seedlings to emerge within 7-10 days.
- Transplanting: Transplant seedlings outdoors once soil temperatures are consistently above 60°F and after the last frost. Space bush plants 3-4 inches apart and pole plants 6 inches apart, providing support for pole varieties.
General Care Tips for Soup Beans
- Sunlight: Provide full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily.
- Watering: Keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged, especially during flowering and pod formation. Mulch around plants to retain soil moisture and reduce weeds.
- Fertilizing: Soup beans are light feeders. Enrich soil with compost at planting; avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers, as they can reduce bean production.
- Weeding: Keep the area weed-free to reduce competition for nutrients and moisture. Mulching helps control weed growth and maintain soil moisture.
- Supporting Pole Soup Beans: Pole varieties require a sturdy trellis or other support structure for vertical growth, improving air circulation and making harvesting easier.
