Lost in the Sauce

Add seeds to a glass of water and store them in a dark place at room temp. Popped beans will sprout a tail, the taproot, within 2-5 days. For a more detailed version, view The Easy Funky Beans Method Step 1 of 6: Germinate the beans post from our Beans-to-Greens grow guide blog series.

In a vessel of inert substrate (such as peat moss or coco coir), carefully place the seeds a fingertip’s depth, with the taproot down and lightly cover them. For indoor grows, do this step in their final pot; for outdoor grows, in a small starter pot. Add aloe flakes and mykos to the substrate. For a more detailed version, view The Easy Funky Beans Method Step 2 of 6: Plant the Beans post from our Beans-to-Greens grow guide blog series. WATERING PRO TIP: With a spray bottle or mister, add about a teaspoon of water to the soil as soon as you have planted your seeds.

Ensure seedlings have access to 16 hours of synthetic light, adequate humidity (70%), and ample water through this 1-2 week stage. For a more detailed version, view The Easy Funky Beans Method Step 3 of 6: Maintain the seedlings post from our Beans-to-Greens grow guide blog series. WATERING PRO TIP: Focusing on topsoil humidity, use a spray bottle for quantity control. Lightly water the seedlings every 2-3 days.

Once multiple nodes and leaf fingers start to appear, gradually introduce a nutrient solution with mostly nitrogen with some potassium and phosphorus (we recommend starting with smaller dose than is typically directed on packaging). Keep the light exposure to 16-18 hours/day for at least 2-4 weeks. For a more detailed version, view The Easy Funky Beans Method Step 4 of 6: Nurture the veg-babies post from our Beans-to-Greens grow guide blog series. WATERING PRO TIP: Focus on moderate, root-depth watering that can be achieved by pouring a small amount at the base of the plant. Water with the aloe and mykos solution every 2-3 days or as needed.

A reduction in light strength and exposure time (to 12 hours or less) triggers the plants to flower. Once this happens, gradually change the nutrient solution to one that contains mostly phosphorus and potassium with very little nitrogen. Brace the plants if necessary and trim lower foliage while the plant stretches and bulks over this 8-12 week stage. Wean off external nutrient-delivery over the last 3 weeks before intended harvest. For a more detailed version, view The Easy Funky Beans Method Step 5 of 6: Feed the flowers post from our Beans-to-Greens grow guide blog series. WATERING PRO TIP: Focus on watering the plant, proportional to its size. Avoid over-watering to curb Pythium wilt. Use coconut water and mykos as needed. Reduce watering schedule the final 3 weeks before harvest and don’t use supplements.

Look for amber, opaque trichomes and darkening pistils as signs it is time for harvest. Remove entire plants at their base and hang them upside down in a low-airflow location with cool, moderately humid conditions (ideally, 60F with 60% humidity). Drying to completion should occur slowly, over about a 2-week period. For a more detailed version, view The Easy Funky Beans Method Step 6 of 6: Harvest the bud post from our Beans-to-Greens grow guide blog series.