Random Bean Facts
The common bean has been cultivated for over 8,000 years. It is one of the first vegetables used in human agriculture. Beans were introduced to Europe in the 16th century.
There are over 4,000 cultivars of beans today.
The term "string bean" originated because the original bean cultivars had a fibrous string that ran along the seam of the bean. The string was noticeable when you snapped off the ends. Improved cultivars developed in the early 20th century no longer had this string (which was obviously not very palatable).
The U.S. produces around 800,000 tons of beans each year. Wisconsin produces the most (~300,000 tons) with California in second place.
Beans contain oligosaccharides. These are complex sugars that cannot be broken down by humans. However, bacteria in the intestines do have the necessary enzymes. This bacterial digestion of the oligosaccharides causes gas build-up and ultimately flatulence.
Beans are a legume, and have the ability to fix nitrogen directly from the air. Nitrogen fertilizers are generally required only in small amounts or not at all.
American indians would often plant beans alternating with corn (a heavy nitrogen feeder). The beans would vine up the corn plants as they grew (all varieties at the time were "pole beans", as "bush bean" cultivars had not been developed). The excess nitrogen from the beans would feed the corn, and the corn made a handy trellis for the beans.
The Navy Bean got its name for being a staple in the galley of Naval ships in the 19th century. No one seems to know what it was called before then.
The common bean has been cultivated for over 8,000 years. It is one of the first vegetables used in human agriculture. Beans were introduced to Europe in the 16th century.
There are over 4,000 cultivars of beans today.
The term "string bean" originated because the original bean cultivars had a fibrous string that ran along the seam of the bean. The string was noticeable when you snapped off the ends. Improved cultivars developed in the early 20th century no longer had this string (which was obviously not very palatable).
The U.S. produces around 800,000 tons of beans each year. Wisconsin produces the most (~300,000 tons) with California in second place.
Beans contain oligosaccharides. These are complex sugars that cannot be broken down by humans. However, bacteria in the intestines do have the necessary enzymes. This bacterial digestion of the oligosaccharides causes gas build-up and ultimately flatulence.
Beans are a legume, and have the ability to fix nitrogen directly from the air. Nitrogen fertilizers are generally required only in small amounts or not at all.
American indians would often plant beans alternating with corn (a heavy nitrogen feeder). The beans would vine up the corn plants as they grew (all varieties at the time were "pole beans", as "bush bean" cultivars had not been developed). The excess nitrogen from the beans would feed the corn, and the corn made a handy trellis for the beans.
The Navy Bean got its name for being a staple in the galley of Naval ships in the 19th century. No one seems to know what it was called before then.