Easiest Veggie to Grow

Hello Garden Friends,
Many new veggie gardeners ask me, "What is the easiest vegetable to grow?" My reply is always Green Beans.  Simple, short day crop, green beans are a favorite veggie of most adults and children. They are versatile in most menus and very good for you.
My favorite variety of green beans to grow are "bush varieties". They take less space in the garden and usually go from sowing to harvest in less than 60 days. Contender is a popular bush variety ready in 40-50 days. There are also pole variety beans that can be grown vertically. These type are good for people with very limited garden space since they can be grown to climb up fences, trellises or as the Native Americans use to, grown along side corn as the beans climb up the corn stalks.
Green beans are always direct sown, meaning they go right into the garden as seed rather than starting in a greenhouse and transplanting into the garden. They are a warm weather crop and since many varieties are so fast to grow you can stagger your plantings starting in June right through to 30 days before the first frost for your zone. An example would be in zone 7 you can start planting green beans in mid May through late September.  Simply select a location in the garden or build a raised bed about 10-12 inches deep that will get full sun. Sow seeds according to spacing for the particular variety you choose, plant seed about 1 1/2 the depth of the seed and cover lightly with soil. Keep moist in dry periods and you will be eating fresh green beans in less that 2 months.  As always work a little composted manure into your soil before planting and no other fertilizing will be necessary. Green beans do not usually have any insect problems but occasionally you will get a bean beetle or some other pest who likes your crop as much as you do. I have found with green bean pests usually a dusting of cayenne pepper over the plant and on back side of plant or a spray of organic insecticidal soap will get rid of most pests.
 There is nothing like fresh green beans from your own garden and they are also the easiest veggie to can. Try your hand at green beans and you'll be hooked on veggie gardening.