How to Grow Butterscotch Beans from Seeds

Planting Butterscotch Beans

• 1

  Find a sunny planting site for the butterscotch beans. Ideally the site should provide at least eight to 10 hours of sunshine daily.

• 2

  Dig up the soil using a fork or shovel. The soil, at a depth of 16 to 18 inches, should be well-cultivated and free of rocks, sticks and all vegetation.

• 3

  Spread out 1 cup of 5-10-10 fertilizer for every 50 square feet of planting area. The fertilizer should be worked into the top 6-inch layer of soil using the fork or shovel. Do this about two weeks prior to planting.

• 4

  Mix a 2- to 3-inch layer of leaf mold, well aged manure or dehydrated compost into the top 10 to 12 inches of soil.

• 5

  Create 12- to 14-inch rows in the planting area that are about 2 to 3 feet apart. However long you make the rows depends on how much room you have in your garden. Each row can be about 2 inches deep.

• 6

  Plant one butterscotch bean seed every 2 to 4 inches apart. Sprinkle about 1 inch of soil over the butterscotch bean seeds.

• 7

  Water the rows thoroughly using a slow, steady spray of water until the soil is visibly moistened. Keep the rows moist but not soppy with moisture. Germination will typically begin in about seven to 14 days depending on growing conditions.

• 8

  Thin the butterscotch bean seedlings to one plant every 12 inches. To do this, use a pair of scissors and cut off the plant at soil level.

Caring for Butterscotch Beans

• 9

  Weed the area thoroughly during the growth of the butterscotch beans. Weeds can sap nutrients and precious moisture from the soil. Make sure you provide water in early mornings and try to keep water off the foliage.

• 10

  Water the plants with the equivalent of about 1 inch of water each week if no supplemental rainfall occurs.

• 11

  Spread out a 2- to 3-inch layer of lawn clippings, straw or shredded bark as a mulch to prevent moisture loss and keep weeds down.

• 12

  Pull up the entire bean plant when ready to harvest. Place the plants upside-down to dry further for another two or three days.

• 13

  Place the dried beans in burlap sacks or sealed containers until you are ready to use them.