Last updated:
Green beans are easy to plant, easy to take care of, and grow rather fast. I don’t have kids- but I imagine that I am like a kid because when I plant a seed- I want a result… and the quicker the better! This is why I love growing green beans! They can be started in the house or you can wait to plant until it is a bit warmer out. I will probably be starting mine in the house this year as this is my ‘new’ raised bed garden spot this year (thanks Mother Nature)! I think it may take a bit longer to get it up and running!
So, what are you going to do with these beans that grow so well? Eat them till you grow stalks as legs? Blanch and freeze them? How about can them??? Dilly beans! Below is my dilly bean recipe. This is the very first thing that my mother-in-law and I canned together. We originally started with the Ball Blue Book recipe- but then we changed things around to fit our taste (see the different books below for getting started).
Dilly Beans
4 pounds green beans
1/2 cup canning salt
5 cups vinegar
5 cups water
A dash of cayenne pepper in each jar
16 cloves of garlic, to be divided
8 heads dill plus 8 springs dill
This will be an open bath can. Add water into large pot and place jars into the hot water. Water should be over 185 degrees. Combine your salt, vinegar and water into another sauce pan. Bring to boil. Trim up your green beans and pack hot jars tight with green beans (can be any length you like). For quart jars add 3 cloves of garlic (I usually put 2 in the bottom and one in the top) and 2 heads of dill plus 1-2 springs. Add a dash of cayenne pepper. Then ladle your liquid mixture to top of contents in jar. Leave ¼ inch of head space (space between jar contents and 2 piece lids). Try and get any air bubble out. Adjust 2 piece lids and place into open bath canner as directed by manufacturer. You will process (let sit at full boil) for 10 minutes for either pints or quarts. I always let my Dilly Beans sit for about a month after I can them before I open them up and enjoy!
This recipe was based off of Ball Blue Book recipe- however some ingredient amounts have been changed. For other great recipes and tips be sure to check out Ball® online! To find step by step instructions on hot-water bath (open bath) canning either Ball Blue Book or Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving.
