Want to enjoy garden-grown green beans but have no idea how to plant them? No worries, we have got you. Here’s everything you need to know about growing green beans and harvesting them.
After the last spring frost, sow seeds outside at a depth of 1 inch on a productive, well-worked bed. You will need to maintain the pH between 6.0 and 7.0. The ideal soil for growing green beans is slightly acidic, and your green beans will expect at least six hours of sun daily.
Even if you’ve never planted before, planting green beans is one of the simplest things you can do. Planting beans and watching them grow will give you confidence if you’re new to gardening. Keep reading the article to learn about green beans planting and harvesting.
When to Plant Green Beans
When it comes to raising green beans, timing is everything. When the risk of frost has passed, begin planting in the spring. Cold, damp soil can damage seedlings; warm weather is required for plant growth.
Green beans should only be planted in the spring after the risk of frost has gone. Or you can plant them about 10 to 12 weeks before the first estimated frost date in the fall to ensure success.
Mid-May through mid-July is the optimum time of year to cultivate green beans. After that, you have till the end of September to harvest your crops.
You will need 12-14 grams of seed for each row of 100 feet. If you can, use fungicide-treated seeds to protect the seedlings from disease until they are established and able to defend themselves. You can buy one of the best quality seeds like Mung Bean Sprouting Seed – Chinese Green Bean (on Amazon).
It’s now safe to sow your green beans after the risk of frost has passed. Because they are a warm-season crop, green beans prefer soil temperatures over 60°F to spread their wings or germinate.
Different Types of Green Beans
First, let’s look at the many sorts of beans before we get into the specifics of how to grow these two varieties: Green beans come in two flavors: sweet and sour. Beginner gardeners can easily cultivate a variety of beans.
Bush Beans
In terms of green beans, the bush bean is the most common. This type of bean grows to a height of about two feet and is called a bush bean. Planting them correctly allows them to support themselves by stretching and leaning on each other.
Even though the yield of bush beans is lower than pole beans, they produce in a shorter period than pole beans. Bush beans are popular because they don’t require stringing, saving many home cooks time and effort. A drawback to harvesting bush beans is that it is extremely taxing on your back.
Pole Beans
Pole beans, as the title indicates, are grown on a pole. Using trellises rather than rows of plants for support makes them ideal for small-space gardening.
Pole beans, on the other hand, have a much more extended harvest period—about six to eight weeks. Despite the beans growing on supports, a single plant has a larger footprint than a bush bean.
Runner Beans
Beans that tend to proliferate are known as runners. However, even though these beans are prolific, they are time-consuming to harvest. Even though harvesting these crops is a lot of work, we continue to grow them because of the quality of their output.
Half Runner Beans
Pole beans and bush beans are combined in half-runner beans. It is possible to grow half-runners without backing, but they spread out much more than bush beans and require a lot of space to mature properly.
How to Plant Green Beans
Whether you pick bush beans or pole beans, you don’t need much space to harvest green beans! Elevated beds and containers benefit significantly from the use of bush beans. However, we advocate planting pole beans in the ground because they grow very tall.
Prepare the Soil
Beans thrive on soil that drains well and has a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Soil nitrogen fixation will be sufficient. It means they don’t usually require additional fertilizer.
It is still necessary to add fertilizer or compost to poor soil in the fall before planting. This compost will be an excellent addition to your compost bin. If you don’t have one, you can get a compost bin such as OXO Easy-Clean Compost Bin (on Amazon).
To avoid disturbing the roots of pole beans, set up any supports before planting them.
Form and Planting
Plant bush beans 1 to 2 inches apart, 1 inch deep, in a row. 212 to 3 feet apart is the ideal spacing for rows. Beans should be spaced between 3 and 4 inches apart after sprouting.
For pole beans, seeds should be spaced by 3-4 feet in rows. Make hills out of them, and place them three feet apart. A 6-8 foot stake should be placed in the middle of each hill’s summit.
To support pole beans, you can get perfectly made bamboo stakes such as Empire Home Natural Thin Bamboo Stakes (on Amazon). Before planting pole beans, construct trellises or tepees to protect the plants’ delicate roots.
How to Maintain Green Bean Plants
Even if seedlings require a little help latching on to their supports, they’ll eventually find their way up on their own. Some support is needed for bushy plants with bean clusters on their tips, but they generally don’t require much support.
Watering
During dry conditions, make sure to keep plants well-watered. Avoid causing the soil to become saturated with water. Keep the soil moist and away from the leaves if feasible.
Delay mulching till after seeds have hatched and are well-growing in early to mid-summer, as beans demand warmer soils than many other crops.
Fertilization
Nitrogen fertilization should be used sparingly, according to the soil test results. In legumes, nitrogen can be found in the atmosphere, but still, you might need to fertilize them in some cases. You get high nitrogen fertilizer such as
Weed Management
Weed control around beans is critical to a successful harvest. Weeds compete with each other for resources such as water, nutrients, and exposure to sunlight. Use a hoe, a cultivator, or your hands to eliminate weeds.
Sunlight
Because there is a strong correlation between sunlight and your beans, you should plant your green beans in a well-lit area. Choose a location that gets a lot of the sun during the day so the plants can thrive.
Temperature and Humidity
However, even though green beans can survive high temperatures, they are particularly vulnerable to cold and frost. Green beans’ ideal growing temperature range is between 18 and 29℃ or 65 to 85°F.
Common Pests and Prevention
Bean plants are also a favorite target for various pests, including aphids.
- Beetles of Mexico.
- Aphids.
- Japanese Beetles.
You can remove the affected leaf or any insects, larvae, or eggs you find. To get rid of aphids, spray the leaves with a garden hose. In addition, slugs are attracted to low-lying foliage and beans, so be sure to prune them as needed.
More tips for maintaining the health of your plants:
- Make sure you start with healthy seeds.
- Rotate your crops after each planting.
- Clear the area around the plants so that they can thrive. (rotting leaves, weeds, etc.)
Harvesting and Storage
Look for firm pods, 6 to 10 inches in length, and use your thumbnail and fingers to pinch off bush beans, as illustrated above (or you can use scissors if you remember them). You don’t want to pull the plants out of the ground by doing so.
Because overripe beans might kill the plants, it’s essential to pick and eliminate any beans that have swelled above their optimal ripeness every few days to ensure that the plants continue to produce.
Pole or bush beans that have lost their quality can’t be recreated using preservation methods.
Fresh Beans
Refrigerate fresh pole or bush beans in plastic storage bags or rigid containers to keep them fresh and moist in the smaller section of the refrigerator
Frozen Beans
Properly date and label all packages. Beans that are appropriately wrapped and frozen can be kept fresh for up to ten months.
Canned Beans
To clean food waste and clean lids and jars that have been vacuum-sealed, remove the screw bands and wash both the top and the pot. Finally, dry the jars thoroughly before reusing them. Consume canned beans within one to two years for optimum quality.
Dried Beans
You can store your cooled and dried items, such as nuts, in glass jars or moisture and vapor-proof freezer packages, such as boxes or bags. Retain in a dark, cold, and dry location.
Final Thoughts
There are several ways to use green beans in the garden. They can be eaten raw, cooked, or even fried, according to your preference. They can easily be grown in your backyard or inside your home. Providing them with the right amount of sunlight and water is essential to their success.
You may also protect your plants from pests by taking preventative measures and caring for your plants regularly. After that, you can harvest them as soon as they’re ready.