Common bean Novirex

The Novirex Bean is a dwarf variety with a fleshy pod that offers a very interesting yield. It produces numerous light green pods that are 15 to 18 cm (6 to 7in) long and have a round section. Very fleshy, they have a flavor that is enhanced in cold dishes such as Italian-style preparations, Provencal dishes, etc. Moreover, it is perfectly suited for freezing and canning. The Novirex Bean is resistant to anthracnose and most bean viruses. It can be sown from April to August and harvested from June to October.

Whether consumed for its pod or its seed, the bean is a highly appreciated vegetable in gardens because it is very easy to grow. It is so punctual that the gardener knows the exact date when the first harvest will take place, which is 60 days after sowing.

Discovered in the New World and acclimatized in Europe from the 16th century onwards, the bean has now become an essential legume in diets all over the world. Native Americans cultivated it for its dried beans, but it was the Italians who, in the 18th century, introduced the consumption of the whole pod by picking it when it was immature.
The bean is a vine plant with indeterminate growth. Primitive varieties are all vine-plants and require staking. Later, for practical reasons, dwarf varieties were selected, but they all have tendrils that can wrap around a support.
Pods are generally green, sometimes yellow (butter beans), striped with red or even amethyst. Among the varieties that are eaten when ripe or extra ripe, there are the string beans that have filaments at maturity. Then the pod becomes parchment-like and loses its taste quality.

The snap bean is generally more fleshy and can be consumed entirely, both the seeds and the pods, even when fully ripe. The more recently created string-snap beans can be consumed when young and extra ripe, or when more fleshy like a snap bean, as they do not form filaments.

Among the shell beans (i.e., beans where only the seeds are consumed), we distinguish between harvesting fresh beans and harvesting dry beans, which takes place 90 days after sowing.

Immature green pods are rich in vitamins A, B9, and C, as well as trace elements and minerals. Dry beans are also very rich in vitamin C, trace elements, and especially vegetable proteins.

Harvesting: the harvesting of fresh beans or young pods begins 60 days after sowing. For fresh beans, it must be done before the pods start to dehydrate and develop wrinkles. The beans should barely take on their color. For pod consumption, harvesting should take place every 2 or 3 days, both at the ripe and extra ripe stages for string beans. Harvesting dry beans is done by completely cutting the plant, which is then hung in a dry and well-ventilated place. They can be shelled as needed.

Preservation: freezing pods is now the most common method of preservation. To do this, remove the stems, wash the pods, blanch them for 5 to 6 minutes in boiling water, then plunge them into cold water and dry them with a clean towel. Once packed in bags, the beans can be placed in the freezer at -18°C (-0.4°F). However, canning is regaining its popularity among an increasing number of consumers due to the taste qualities inherent in this preservation method. Like with freezing, remove the stems, wash and blanch the beans, then place them in jars and fill them with salted boiling water. Close the jars and sterilize them in a pressure cooker or with a sterilizer for 1 hour and 30 minutes over medium heat. To do this, completely cover the jars with water after securely sealing them.

Dry beans: when completely dry, bean seeds can be stored for up to a year if kept in good conditions, such as in airtight jars.

Gardener's tip: beans, like all members of the Fabaceae family, have the ability to fix nitrogen from the air into the soil through a plant-bacteria symbiosis. They have the ability to regenerate soils. Beans can be included in crop rotation after burying green manure.
Beans are low-nutrient plants. Traditionally, bean cultivation in Central and South America is associated with the cultivation of squash and corn, forming a positive triad. This association is locally called Milpa. Beans also associate well with eggplants, carrots, cabbage, potatoes, and radishes, as they protect each other. Avoid planting them near alliums or fennel, as their growth is inhibited.

A spray of nettle manure effectively fights aphid attacks and strengthens the plants that benefit from it.