Market Farming

[Richard Moyer <ramoyer AT gmail.com>]

I read that bush beans are 'largely' self pollinated.  But do they need a pollinating insect to help?

10 day forecast has several clear nights in low 40s.  We covered much last night because low of 32-34 was predicted with a freeze warning.  But a fog moved in late so just some frost.

My late bush bean planting of 'Crockett' has many hundreds of blooms, and I'd like to keep selling beans as long as possible.

If I keep a light layer of row cover on during days in the 60s, perhaps more will ripen before a hard freeze.  But what about pollination?  Do beans need a pollinating insect to help transfer pollen in each flower?

What's a good resource to figure this out?

Thanks,

Richard Moyer

SW VA