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How to Grow Beans

Planted May 27, 2001
Last tended to on October 15, 2024
Reading time: 3 minutes

Bean Growing & Trellising On Our Farm:

Examples From Our Gardens

by Mike Dunton

Growing Information: Most commonly cultivated beans (Phaseolus) have an American heritage. The origin of the plant lies somewhere near Guatemala but migration throughout North and South America had occurred before Europeans arrived. In fact, beans were almost as universally cultivated as maize by the native peoples.

Beans prefer rich soil in a sunny location. Don’t bother trying to get an early start with beans – you’ll waste a lot of seed! Beans are fairly fragile and you should not sow them until all frost danger has passed and the soil remains above 65ºF.

In the words of the botanist Liberty Hyde Bailey, “No vegetable seed decays quicker than beans, and the delay caused by waiting for the ground to become warm and free from excessive moisture will be more than made up by the rapidity of growth when finally they are planted.”

Plant seeds 1½ inches deep, every two to three inches in rows twenty-four inches apart. Cultivate frequently and shallow until flowers appear. After they begin to flower, be careful not to disturb the roots as it can cause the blossoms to drop.

Make sure that you keep them watered deeply in the heat of the summer. Soaking is preferred to using overhead sprinklers, as the latter can contributed to disease issues.

Bush-type beans will require little or no support while climbing varieties will require some structure. Refer to our article entitled, “Bean Support and Trellising Ideas” for ideas.

Harvest fresh green, snap beans when the have reached a desirable pod size. At this young stage they are tender and tasty. Do not wait too long as they become fibrous and stringy. A ten-foot row of pole beans should provide the average family of three or four with fresh beans about twice a week through the season.

It should be noted that heat and water stress can be detrimental to beans. Temperatures over 95ºF can cause blossoms to drop (abort) which reduces production. Both heat and water stress will increase fiber production and cause the pods to become stringy and woody. Keep your plants well watered.

If you are raising dry beans, it is always best to allow them to remain on the plant until the pods are brittle and snap open easily. However, if you live in an area with a shorter growing season, harvest as close to dry as you can and finish drying indoors. Freezing temperatures and rain will damage the beans. Refer to our article entitled, “How to Save Your Own Bean Seeds” for information about growing to the dry bean stage, which is the same stage as seed stock.

Related Articles:

• “How to Save Your Own Bean Seeds”
• “Bean Support and Trellising Ideas”
• “Bean Preparation & Cooking Information”

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