Food Storage Prepping in the Garden: Beans

Welcome to another installment in our Food Storage Prepping in the Garden series.

Today our "crop talk" is beans. Specifically, dry beans.

As I mentioned in the beginning of our series, we are focusing on crops that can be grown and stored without the extra step of canning or dehydrating. *If you want to store ready-to-eat_ beans you will need to add the extra steps*

Dry Beans are easy to grow and store.

 

From our article, Growing Beans from Seed:

For the sake of simplicity, I classify beans in 2 categories: Bush and Pole.

"Bush beans are usually compact and grow close to the ground. Pole beans climb and require a trellis or other support. Bush beans tend to produce more beans in a shorter time, while pole beans will produce more over an entire season. Pole beans typically require much less garden space since they grow UP."

From there, you have the stage in which a bean is eaten, snap beans & dry beans.

Snap beans are eaten fresh when the pod is still tender and edible. Dry Beans are eaten after the pod and bean have fully dried. Dry beans are also called “shelling beans”.

From seed to harvest, dry beans are ready in 70 to 100 days depending on the variety.

 

Fresh snap bean (left), dry bean pods (right)

 

Harvesting dry beans is a very easy process. You can use your fingers to pull the pod apart and the seeds/beans usually spill right out. It would be helpful to use a large bowl to collect your bounty.

 

 

Storing your Dry Beans

If you have a collection of recycled jars, this is a great way to use them. There is no canning required for storing dry beans in their dry state.

Officially, dried beans have a minimum shelf life of one to two years, per the USDA. For me, I might be a bit of a rebel here but I definitely store them for longer. Proper storage is important..

 

Jars should be kept in a cool, dark location. A cabinet or closet indoors works well. Be sure to label your jars so you know what you are storing.

It's that easy!