How to Grow Bean Plants

The magic of growing beans is the sparkling assortment of colors, shapes and sizes of bean variety just waiting for you to grow. For this example, we will use dwarf French bean seeds, which grow more quickly than other beans. Choose a sunny place that is sheltered from the wind. Use rich, well-drained potting soil. Dwarf beans grow 20 in (50 cm) high. The seeds germinate in 7-10 days, and the beans are ready to pick in 10 weeks.

Materials Needed:

• black bucket
• foil food containers
• kid-safe scissors
• dwarf French bean seeds, different varieties
• small jar
• potting soil
• plastic bag

• glue
• glitter
• empty plastic bottles
• plant stakes
• cotton string
• tape
• broken eggshells and seashells (optional)

1. Decorate a black bucket.

Cut stars out from foil food containers and stick them to the bucket with any strong, quick-drying glue that is suitable for plastic.

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2. Buy your bean seeds.

Choose a few varieties of dwarf French bean seeds to produce different colored beans. We used dwarf green, purple king and yellow rocquencourt beans.

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3. Soak the beans overnight to encourage germination.

After soaking, the seeds will have begun to swell.

Enlarge Photo+Shrink Photo-DK - Ready Set Grow! © 2010 Dorling Kindersley Limited