Legumes
Legumes earn their place twice over — a harvest, plus nitrogen left behind in the soil for whatever follows. These 12 guides cover fresh-eating beans and peas alongside dried varieties like chickpeas and lentils, including the safety notes dried beans need.
Green Beans
Phaseolus vulgaris · Legume family
Kidney Beans
Phaseolus vulgaris · Legume family
Black Beans
Phaseolus vulgaris · Legume family
Cannellini Beans
Phaseolus vulgaris · Legume family
Snake Beans
Vigna unguiculata · Legume family
Broad Beans
Vicia faba · Legume family
Chickpeas
Cicer arietinum · Legume family
Lentils
Lens culinaris · Legume family
Peas
Pisum sativum · Legume family
Snow Peas
Pisum sativum var. saccharatum · Legume family
Sugar Snap Peas
Pisum sativum var. macrocarpon · Legume family
Soybeans
Glycine max · Legume family
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to inoculate legume seed before planting?
Not essential for a home garden, but a legume inoculant introduces the specific bacteria that fix nitrogen in the roots, which can meaningfully boost both growth and the soil benefit if your soil hasn't grown legumes recently.
Should I pull out legume plants after harvest?
Cut them off at soil level instead of pulling, and leave the roots in the ground — that's where the fixed nitrogen is stored, and leaving them to break down feeds the next crop planted there.