Growing Beans from Sowing to Harvest

, written by Benedict Vanheems gb flag

Bean seedlings ready for transplanting outdoors

If there’s one crop that sums up the sheer joy and plenty of growing your own, it’s the humble bean. Most beans are very quick growing and, once they get going, you can expect week after week (after week!) of tender, tasty pods. We’re going to look at two types of bean: dwarf beans, and climbing types. So let’s get started!

Types of Beans

Dwarf beans are very quick growing and may be sown every three or four weeks from spring to give a succession of pickings throughout summer. They’re handy for filling in any gaps and perfect for tubs and window boxes.

Climbing beans need a little more space and some form of support to help them climb, but on the flip side you’ll get many more beans from each plant. They’re a great way to add height to the vegetable garden and can make an attractive feature.

Beans can be further categorised by their pods. Green beans generally have smooth, slender pods. Depending on where you live, you’ll also know them as string beans, snap beans or French beans. Runner beans tend to have slightly coarser pods and continue cropping a few weeks later than string beans. Then there are the beans exclusive to warmer climates including soya beans, lima beans, and the appropriately named yard-long beans!

“Green

Grow High Yields of Beans

All beans prefer a sunny spot in well-drained soil that was improved with compost or well-rotted manure the autumn before sowing.

A clever technique to boost growth is to create a compost trench. Dig out a trench about a foot (30cm) deep where your beans are to grow. Fill it up with kitchen scraps and spent crops, top with leaves then cap it off with soil. By spring the ground will be beautifully rich and moisture-retentive, and your beans will thrive in it.

How to Sow Beans

Sow beans where they are to grow, against their supports or, for bush types, four to six inches (10-15cm) apart with 18 inches (45cm) left between each row. Use a hoe to scratch out rows or dig individual planting holes with a trowel. Drop in two seeds per hole, so they fall about an inch (2cm) apart, and are two inches (5cm) deep. Make the first sowing one week before your last expected frost date, then continue sowing every three or four weeks until midsummer. Thin each pair of seedlings to leave the strongest.

Or sow in a greenhouse or cold frame for the earliest start – up to a month before your last frost date. This will also help protect young seedlings from slugs and snails. Use deep module trays or pots so there’s enough room for the roots, and sow into any general-purpose or seed-starting mix. You can get away with sowing one seed per module or pot; but sow a few extras just in case!

“Bush
Bush beans can be sown repeatedly for a succession of harvests

Planting Dwarf Beans

Beans don’t tolerate frost. Transplant them outside only when you’re sure there’s no chance of a late frost. Harden seedlings off a week beforehand by leaving them outside for a few hours, increasing the time gradually each day. A shaded cold frame is great for acclimatising plants.

Space dwarf bean plants at the same distances as used for sowing. Carefully ease them from their plugs or pots, then lay them out where they are to be planted. Use a trowel to dig a hole, drop the plant into place then fill in around it and firm into position.

“Companion
Climbing and runner beans need sturdy supports

Planting and Supporting Climbing Beans

Plant pole beans at least six inches (15cm) apart, with rows around two feet (60cm) apart. The traditional way to grow beans is against parallel rows of bamboo canes, joined where they cross at the top to a horizontal cane.

Or try a bean frame. Instead of leaning into each other, the canes lean out and are secured to a rectangular frame at the top. It’s a simple take on the usual ridge-supported setup, and by having the canes leaning away from the center like this the beans hang to the outside, so they’re a lot easier to pick.

But it’s bean teepees that are arguably the prettiest support option. Take the opportunity to create a centerpiece to your garden – a vertical leafy accent brimming with blooms and beans!

“Bean
Bean teepees make a great focal point in the garden

Caring for Beans

Seedlings may sometimes need a little encouragement to latch on to their supports, but they’ll quickly find their own way up. Dwarf varieties rarely need much support, though top-heavy plants, laden with beans, will appreciate short canes, twigs or peasticks to keep them off the ground.

Keep your beans well watered in dry weather, especially once they begin to flower. Mulching around the base of the plants helps to keep the ground moist for longer, and it gives weeds a tougher time. Any weeds that do peek through should be removed by hand to avoid disturbing the bean plant’s roots.

Pinch out the tops of climbing beans once they’ve reached the top of their supports. This prevents them from becoming an ungainly tangled mass, and it concentrates the plants’ efforts into producing more flowers and beans.

“Harvested
Beans are very prolific and will provide a long season of tasty pods for you to pick repeatedly

How to Harvest Beans for Pods

Once your beans are ready, it’s essential to remember the three Ps: pick, pick…and pick some more! When they’re in full flow beans are almost unstoppable, but only if those precious pods are picked as they appear, while they’re still relatively young and slender. At this point they’ll be nice and tender, but leave them too long and they’ll turn stringy and tough. Stop picking, and production will grind to a halt.

Towards the end of the season it’s worth leaving a few pods of open-pollinated or heirloom varieties to dry out on the plant. Shell the dried pods then bring the beans inside to dry further in an airy location. Store the beans in paper envelopes, labeled with the variety and date, then use them for next year’s crop.

Check out our article on growing beans for drying if you’d prefer to dry beans for eating.

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Comments

 
"I had a problem with an aphid infestation on a patio cherry tomato plant last year. Sadly, it was identified too late, resulting in a poor fruit yield and early plant death. I worried about cross infestation on my small property, Thankfully, tomato plants in a corner plot yielded a bountiful harvest of beef steak beauties!! My best advice is to check plants routinely at various times of day and weather conditions. Don't rely on distant checks. Closely inspect the stems, leaves.and fruit. Aphids are tiny and hide well and may not be readily visible. Their hiding spots will be disturbed by gently shaking or tapping a few leaves on each plant. Insecticidal soap is a good treatment. I prepared early and researched a safe, homemade recipe on line. I reduced the amount of each ingredient proportionally and made just enough to fill a spray bottle. "
Marian on Saturday 18 April 2020
"Hi Marian. That's really great advice - thanks for sharing. "
Ben Vanheems on Monday 20 April 2020
"My beans are not seeming to get started very easily, I keep going out and planting more seeds so far the ones that are growing are only a couple of inches high. I have had a lot of slugs so I put pellets which I hated doing. They are in a bird netting so it won’t poison the wildlife. How long should it take to grow and should I fertise with power feed and season ?"
Susanne on Sunday 1 November 2020
"Hi Susanne. Germination for beans generally takes five to ten days - sometimes a little more if it's a chilly start to spring. I have had erratic germination in the past and discovered that mice were digging up the seeds and eating/removing them. The same thing happened with pea seeds and even tulip bulbs I'd planted. Also, if the soil is very wet or poorly draining, it can cause seeds to rot. If you can, start them off in pots of fresh potting mix under cover, or at least somewhere they can be protected from pests. Check that the seed you have is fresh. Sometimes old or poorly stored seeds can give very poor germination. I wouldn't add additional feed at this stage - wait till the plants are getting established."
Ben Vanheems on Monday 2 November 2020
"I tried growing bush beans three years in a row without much luck. Then last spring (2020) I tried something different and had great success. For one, I changed the kind of bean from Blue Lake to Jade beans, I didn't soak the beans first (just placed seeds between damp paper towels inside an open baggie overnight), then used an innoculant for beans. I had a 100% germination and the beans turned out great. "
Barbara Cabanas on Tuesday 5 January 2021
"Interesting technique there Barbara, thanks for sharing. "
Ben Vanheems on Wednesday 6 January 2021
"I always start my beans indoors and plant them out when they are at least 12” high. We have a massive slug and snail problem so when I have planted directly outside from seed, they dont stand a chance. Also I cut plastic bottles open plant them around the edge of the veg and put a drop of stale beer in them. Helps catch the snails. But beware, after a while, they do pong a bit. "
Laura on Thursday 25 February 2021
"That's great advice Laura, thanks for that. Yes - always a good idea to start tender seedlings off away from the main growing areas if you can - those pesky slugs!"
Ben Vanheems on Thursday 25 February 2021
"Please i would like to know how beans is being planted from the soil preparation to the sowing to the manuring, irrigation, weeding, harvesting, and lastly to the storage. And a special thank you to you Ben Vanheems"
rachael on Wednesday 24 March 2021
"Hi Rachael. Have you watched the video? It offers instructions on every step of growing beans, from sowing to harvest. You may also want to search our articles (use the Search field right at the top of the page) to look for other articles on beans - we have a few, all covering different types of beans and different aspects of their cultivation. You may also find our articles/videos on storing harvested crops handy - including on freezing and canning (both applicable to beans)."
Ben Vanheems on Thursday 25 March 2021
"Excellent info on cultivating beans. I started mine inside and wanted to see if I could plant them as they are getting tall. Thank you"
Marcey on Tuesday 27 April 2021
"Last year I had pole beans galore in half wine barrels. This year I started with a good crop and now they flower continuously but are producing almost nothing. We have had some really hot spells and was getting lots of dried leaves so I recently increased my watering, but so far, no luck. Any suggestions other than lots of water and patience?"
Doug Hoiles on Saturday 24 July 2021
"Hi Doug. I think the heat may be the problem. If you've had success before, you know it works. I suspect it is the extreme heat at play here. I'm sorry to say, patience probably is your best tactic in this case."
Ben Vanheems on Monday 26 July 2021
"It's hard to come by well-informed people in this particular topic, but you sound like you know what you're talking about! Thanks Esteroides webpage Cómo entrenar músculo"
Marquardt on Tuesday 29 November 2022

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