Green Beans Growing Guide

Green beans are a staple of every vegetable garden because they are incredibly productive and easy to grow. You can grow them even in limited space, including ground beds, raised beds, or containers. To add color to your garden and kitchen, they are available in red, purple, yellow, and striped varieties. Once they begin growing, you can expect tender, tasty pods week after week. The more beans you harvest, the more these green plants will produce.

In this green bean growing guide, you'll learn when and how to plant, grow, care for, harvest, and store green beans, bush and pole types.

About Green Beans

Green beans are dicotyledonous plants belonging to the Fabaceae family and genus Phaseolus vulgaris. They originated in Peru and spread to Central and South America through migrating Indian tribes. Today, China, Japan, the US, Italy, Spain, and France are the top producers of fresh green beans.

Green beans are commonly known as snap beans, string beans, or haricots verts in French. They are tender annuals harvested when the pods are still succulent and contain immature seeds.

These green plants come in larger climbing varieties (pole beans) that produce pods over a longer period and small, fast-harvesting dwarf varieties (bush beans). The average yield of green beans is 3 to 4 pounds per 10-foot row. They grow up to 1 to 10 feet tall and spread 1 to 4 feet wide.

Green beans are digestible, high in protein and Vitamin B, and low in calories and fat. You can eat fresh green beans off the vine, cook them as a side dish, add them to soups, or mix them into casseroles.

Types of Green Bean Plants

Green beans can be categorized into two types according to their growing style—bush beans and pole beans. Let's discuss their differences so you can choose the best type for your garden.

Bush beans are compact plants that grow to about two feet tall. They are easier to grow and require little maintenance. They are perfect window boxes, tubs, or containers and help fill gaps.

Pole beans grow as climbing vines that reach 10-15 feet tall. These veins require a little more space and some form of support, like a trellis or staking, to help them climb.

They are a great way to add vertical gardening to your space.

Bush beans can be sown every 3 to 4 weeks from spring. They grow earlier than pole beans and produce pods heavily for only a few weeks. Bush beans are a good option for succession planting since you can harvest them within 50 to 55 days. Popular bush beans include Blue Lake 274, Provider, stringless Cherokee, and classic Golden Wax.

On the flip side, pole beans are produced later in the season and take about 55 to 65 days to harvest. Their wines require more time to grow and will continue to produce pods throughout the growing season if you keep harvesting. Some common pole bean varieties are Kentucky Wonder, Blue Lake, and Scarlet Runner.

Most gardeners choose bush green beans because they are fast-growing and don't require any support or trellis. Moreover, if you want to get a plentiful harvest at once, bush green beans are a good choice.

Green Beans Growing Conditions

After choosing the green bean variety, the next step is to select the plantation site in your garden and prepare it for planting.

Choose Plantation Site

So, where to plant green beans? Green beans grow best in a warm, sunny location that receives at least 6-8 hours of sunlight daily. They are mostly seeded directly outdoors. Raised beds are the best, but you can also grow them in pots, containers, or planters.

Do not plant green bean seeds indoors. Due to their delicate roots, these plants may not survive transplanting. As they grow so fast, there is really no benefit to starting them indoors early.

Soil Needs and Preparation

Green beans grow best in fertile, well-drained, and slightly acidic to neutral soil (6.0-7.0 pH). Soil should be nutrient-rich, but not too heavy, as overly wet or compacted soil can cause root rot.

Once you've picked the site, prepare the soil for planting green beans. Remove any weeds from the area, then mix in plenty of compost or well-rotted manure. To improve soil moisture retention, try to add at least two buckets of compost per square yard/meter.

For those sowing seeds directly, till or spade the soil to a depth of 12 inches using our GardenBee Trowel because large clumps of soil and stones can inhibit germination.

If you're growing pole beans, set up supporters like a trellis, a bean cage, or poles to keep the vines off the ground. This vertical growing method also saves space in your garden.

We suggest preparing the soil a few weeks before sowing, planting green beans, or even the previous fall. This will give the ground enough time to settle.

Spacing Requirements

Sow green bean seeds about 1 inch deep in the soil. When growing bush beans, plant seeds about 3 to 6 inches apart in rows spaced 18 to 24 inches apart. In drier climates, bush beans can be planted in double rows with a space of 6 inches between them.

If you're planting pole beans, sow 3 to 4 seeds in hills spaced about 3 feet apart. The spacing between seeds should be 4 to 6 inches. Set up support structures like poles or trellis in the rows for the push bean plants to climb and grow onto.

Growing Zones and When to Plant Green Beans

The ideal time to plant green beans depends on your growing zone. Although planting time can vary, they grow best in USDA Hardiness Zones 3-10.

Green beans are a warm-weather crop and can't tolerate frost. Their growing season generally begins in late spring and continues through summer. So, green beans should be planted any time after the last spring frost or when the danger of frost has passed. When planting green beans, take your time sowing the seeds, as moist, cold soil will delay germination and cause seed rotting.

The ideal air temperatures for these plants are between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit when they produce the highest yields. Soil temperatures are also important in growing green beans. The soil should be warmed to at least 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit before sowing seeds. Even a night in the mid-30s can cause green beans to wilt and bolt.

In most areas, late spring is the ideal time for planting green beans. If you're in a warmer climate, you can plant them in early spring and continue planting every two weeks for a continuous yield throughout the growing season.

How to Plant Green Beans

Once your garden soil has settled and the danger of frost has passed, it's time to grow your green beans. Here's how to do it:

How to Plant Bush Beans

As discussed above, sow the bush bean seeds directly into soil 1 inch deep. Seeds should be sowed 3-4 inches apart in rows spaced 18 to 24 inches apart. Once the plants start growing and seedlings emerge, thin them to 3 to 6 inches apart. Bush beans don't have a long growing season and ripen all at once. But if you want the longest harvest, plant bush bean seeds continuously every two to three weeks, and you can pick fresh green beans throughout the fall.

How to Plant Pole Beans

If you plant pole beans, here's how to do it. Pole beans need a solid structure to support their heavy climbing vines. Therefore, you should erect trellises or teepees before sowing the seeds. The support should be about 6 to 7 feet tall, and sow 5-6 seeds around the base of each pole.

As discussed in the spacing section, pole beans should be planted in rows spaced 2 to 3 feet apart and seeds about 3 inches apart. When the plants grow, thin them to 4 to 6 inches. As the wines appear, train them to climb up the poles. Additionally, you can grow pole beans over a tunnel to add vertical interest to your garden.

Pole beans take a few more days to mature than bush beans. However, they have a longer harvest period.

Tip: For the earliest start-up, you can plant green bean seeds in a cold frame or greenhouse about a month before the last frost date in your area.

How to Grow Green Beans in Containers

Green beans can also be grown in pots or containers. For bush beans, select a large window box or a container at least 15 inches in diameter. If you're growing pole bean type, take a container at least 18 inches in diameter and have a container stake or trellis to support the vine while growing.

Fill containers with compost and high-quality potting soil or a mixture of one-third compost and two-thirds potting mix. Place the containers in a sunny location, as green beans require at least 6-8 hours of sunlight daily.

Caring for Green Beans

Here's how to care for your green bean plants throughout their growth.

Watering

Green beans need regular watering, approximately 1 to 2 inches per week during the growing season. Keep the soil moist but not soggy. Allow the soil to dry up to 0.5 inches deep between waterings. Deep irrigation is better than frequent light watering.

Green beans need the most water during flowering and pod-producing stages to produce higher yields of juicy, snappy beans. If beans are well watered, they will continue flowering. Avoid overwatering, which can cause root rot.

Water the base of the bean plants instead of the leaves. This will reduce the risk of fungal diseases like powdery mildew. For this purpose, drip irrigation is the best choice. Drip irrigation supplies water directly to the roots and helps to conserve water. If you're watering using the usual overhead watering methods, use our lightweight watering nozzle, which will water the base of plants, keeping the leaves dry.

Fertilizing

Green beans are legumes. They can fix nitrogen from the air and make their own fertilizer through a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria, so they do not require extra nitrogen fertilizer. However, if your plants show slow growth or pale foliage, apply a side dressing of compost or organic fertilizer after heavy bloom and pod set. Avoid using high-nitrogen fertilizer, which will produce lush foliage but fewer beans.

Mulching

Apply a 2-3 inch layer of organic mulch, such as straw, sawdust, or grass clippings, to retain moisture, control weeds, and reduce watering frequency.

Pruning

Green beans require no pruning. Harvesting the beans in succession promotes more bean production. Pick the beans as soon as the pods feel strong, but the seeds inside the pods have not yet protruded through the sides of the pods. Pinch off the tops when pole bean vines reach the top of the trellis or poles. This will encourage the plants to focus on producing more pods.

To prevent soil-borne diseases, practice crop rotation with carrots and lettuce to avoid planting beans in the same location year after year.

Caring Tip: Cover young plants with row covers during hot days. Hot weather can cause blossoms to fall from the plants and reduce harvest.

When and How to Harvest Green Beans

This last step is about reaping the fruits of your hard work. So, when are your green beans ready to harvest?

Bush beans grow quickly and are ready to harvest in 50 to 60 days (8 weeks) after planting. They will continue to grow and can be harvested for a month.

If you're growing pole beans, they will be ready to harvest in 60 to 80 days (12 weeks) after planting. While pole beans take more time to reach maturity, they will continue producing fresh beans over eight weeks. This means you can enjoy fresh green beans for a longer time.

Here are some tips about harvesting green beans.

Harvest green beans when they're about 4 to 6 inches long. The pods should be firm and crisp but not bulging with seeds.
Be sure to pick green beans once they mature. The seeds will become hard and bitter if they are left in the bush or on the vine for too long.
The ideal time to harvest beans is in the morning when temperatures are cooler, and sugar levels are high.
When harvesting, gently snap or cut the beans off the plants without tugging, or you'll risk damaging the plant or the vine clinging to the pole or trellis.

How to Store Green Beans

Once harvested, green beans can be stored in the refrigerator for a week if they are dry. Place them in an airtight, moisture-proof container. Even with proper storage, beans will become harder over time. They are also a good candidate for canning or pickling.

How to Propagate Green Beans

After your green bean plants produce their first batch of beans, leave a few plants unharvested for the rest of the season to collect seeds. You can call them seed plants. Let the pods on these plants grow until they turn brownish yellow or fully brown and rattle when you shake them.

Pick the pods and place them in a dry spot. After a couple of weeks, open the pods and remove the seed. If some look unhealthy, discard them. Spread the seeds on a paper towel and let them air dry for several hours. Store the dried seeds in moisture-free containers. After the weather warms up, the seeds will be ready to plant in spring.

Common Green Bean Diseases and Care

While green beans are hardy plants, they can still be affected by pests and diseases like other vegetables.

Aphids: Aphids are a common problem. These tiny insects chew on leaves and secrete a sticky substance that will attract other insects. They also suck sap from the plant leaves and are the primary vectors of bacterial wilt. Use neem oil or insecticidal soaps or spray them off with a hose.

Bean mosaic Virus: It causes leaves to develop colorful rings in a mosaic pattern. There is no cure for this virus, so the entire green bean plant must be thrown out. The only prevention tip is to plant disease-resistant varieties.

Anthracnose: This fungal disease appears as black or brown sunken spots on pods and stems. Remove and destroy infected plants. Plant disease-resistant varieties and practice crop rotation.

Bean Rust: This fungal disease usually develops due to excess moisture. It appears as orange or rust-colored spots on the plant leaves. Remove infected leaves or use neem oil to reduce rust damage.

Bean Beetles: These pests have yellow-orange bodies with black spots and appear like ladybugs. Handpicking beetles, using neem oil, or using row covers can help control them.

The Bottom Line

We hope this guide has been helpful and that you will grow green beans in your garden in the Spring. Growing green beans is easy and rewarding and can be an excellent addition to countless recipes. Choose either a bush bean or pole bean variety, select the best location, prepare the soil, sow the seeds, provide the right care through fertilizing, watering, and mulching, and enjoy fresh beans throughout the growing season.