Content
Asparagus, green, cowpea - all these are the names of a special variety of beans that taste like asparagus, but look like ordinary beans. In its turn, black Eyed Peas divided into bush and climbing.
Growing cowpeas does not require much effort. It is unpretentious to conditions and soil, the main thing is that it is warm. Therefore, it does not always bear fruit well in the northern regions. But inventive gardeners found a way out. In this climate, beans are planted in sandy soil, which warms up much faster.
One of the worthy representatives of green beans is the “Fantasy” variety. It has gained great popularity due to its taste and ease of cultivation. Let's look at the description of this type, as well as detailed care instructions.
Characteristics and advantages of the variety
Asparagus beans “Fantasy” are an early ripening variety. It takes about 55–65 days from the appearance of the first shoots to full ripening. It belongs to the bush varieties of green beans, the height is only 30–40 cm. Many people unfairly underestimate bush beans, but they have a clear superiority over climbing varieties:
- It is easier to grow because it does not need supports. This will significantly save your time and effort;
- it ripens faster than climbing varieties.And the entire harvest will take place in 2-3 stages, while climbing beans need to be periodically inspected, picking off new pods. This does not mean that the harvest will be smaller, it’s just that such beans ripen very quickly and bear fruit;
- takes up less space in your garden and is easier to clean up after harvest as there is no need to untangle the stems.
The pods of “Fantasy” are narrow and can grow up to 13 cm in length. The color is rich, dark green. The seeds inside are oblong in shape. The taste is delicate, sugary. The pods do not have a parchment layer, are juicy, without fibers. The variety is high-yielding.
Prefers moist, loose soil that does not form a crust after watering or rain. It also loves warmth and does not grow well in shady places. Used in cooking for preparing various dishes and side dishes. Suitable for canning and freezing.
Growing and care
Green beans should be planted no earlier than the frosts have completely subsided. The soil should be well heated, not lower than +15°C. Usually this is mid-May - early June. In order for the seeds to germinate faster, they should be soaked and kept there for several hours or a day.
Sow beans in prepared soil to a depth of 3 cm. If you place the seed deeper, it will sprout and develop much more slowly. But if your soil is mixed with sand, then, on the contrary, you should plant it deeper so that the roots are well established in such loose soil. The distance between plants should be 10–20 cm, and between rows - about 40 cm.
After a week, the first shoots will appear.Watering is not often necessary, however, if the summer is dry, you will have to make sure that the soil remains moist. Mulching the soil when growing Fantasy beans can have its advantages and disadvantages. The advantage of mulch is that it retains moisture in the soil better. The disadvantage is poor soil heating. Based on this, it is better to start mulching no earlier than the end of June.
The “Fantasy” variety does not need to be fertilized, since it is unpretentious and is content with the nutrients already present in the soil. Beans also have the ability to enrich the soil with nitrogen. It is often grown to fertilize the soil for planting other crops. But if you still want to fertilize, use an infusion of ash.
The harvested crop can be stored in different ways. For example, make canned beans or freeze them raw or boiled. It is not possible to store green beans fresh; they can spoil very quickly.
Reviews
Let's sum it up
Fans of green beans will certainly appreciate this look. Those who already grow Fantasy beans are very pleased with their choice. It is valued for its unpretentiousness and taste. This variety is perfect for those who have little time to care for vegetable crops, but still want to have tasty fruits in their garden.
