The ‘Provider’ bean variety, introduced in 1965 by the USDA, is popular among commercial growers and home gardeners due to its reliability and abundant production. This dependable green bean is valued for producing a large, concentrated crop, which makes harvest efficient and simplifies preservation efforts.
The Definitive Answer: Provider’s Growth Habit
The Provider bean is definitively a bush bean variety, exhibiting a compact, low-growing, and determinate growth habit. Unlike vining pole beans, which are indeterminate and require support, bush beans reach a mature height of about 16 to 24 inches and are self-supporting. This makes Provider a simple choice for gardeners with limited space. Bush beans produce their entire crop within a short, concentrated window, which is ideal for preserving a large batch all at once.
Key Characteristics of the Provider Variety
A primary advantage of the Provider bean is its exceptionally early maturity, often ready for harvest in just 48 to 55 days from the time of planting. This rapid development allows for earlier crops and makes the variety well-suited for regions with shorter growing seasons. The pods themselves are typically straight, round, and stringless, measuring between five and eight inches in length with a low-fiber content. These medium-green pods are produced in clusters and hold well on the plant, making the picking process more efficient.
The Provider bean possesses strong resistance to several diseases, including Bean Common Mosaic Virus (BCMV) and Powdery Mildew. This variety is also noted for its tolerance of cooler soil temperatures compared to many other beans. This tolerance permits a slightly earlier spring planting, extending the potential production window and allowing for multiple sowings throughout the season.
Essential Growing Requirements
To achieve the best results with Provider bush beans, planting should occur only after the danger of the last spring frost has completely passed. The soil temperature should be at least 60°F for optimal germination, though this variety is sometimes successful in temperatures as low as 55°F. Bush beans are best direct-sown into the garden, as they typically do not transplant well due to their fragile root systems. Seeds should be planted about one inch deep, with individual seeds spaced approximately two to four inches apart within the row.
The plants require a location that receives a minimum of six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily to support vigorous growth and maximum pod production. Well-drained soil rich in organic matter is preferred, as beans dislike sitting in overly saturated conditions. Beans are nitrogen-fixing plants, meaning they convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form in the soil, so excessive nitrogen fertilization should be avoided. Too much nitrogen will encourage the growth of lush foliage at the expense of developing pods, reducing the yield.
Consistent moisture is particularly important once the plants begin to flower and set pods, as dry soil can cause the pods to become tough or fibrous. Harvesting the straight, tender pods should begin around 50 days and is a continuous process; picking the beans every few days encourages the plant to set more flowers and prolongs the overall harvest. To ensure a steady supply of fresh beans throughout the season, gardeners can sow successive crops every two to three weeks until mid-summer.