How To Grow Green Beans
Want to learn how to grow green beans? You've come to the right place. So sit back and relax. Growing green beans really is easy. In fact, they are one of the easiest vegetables to grow. This makes them a great option to introduce kids to gardening - kids are more likely to be interested in something they have success in doing. Green bean plants don't take up a lot of space. They require very little maintenance. And the best part is - as long as you keep picking and the growing conditions are favorable to maintain healthy plants, they keep producing right up until it gets too hot or too cold.
Green beans are appropriate for both container and traditional vegetable gardens. The beans themselves are usually 6-9 inches long, depending on the variety. Most varieties are ready to be harvested 50-65 days after planting. This makes them a good option for both a spring and fall garden, depending on your climate. In our area, we try and grow 2 green bean crops per year.
Green bean plants can be divided up into two categories:
- Bush Beans
- Pole Beans
Bush bean plants grow just as the name suggests - like a bush. They reach 18-36 inches tall and require no support structure. Bush beans can be sowed in rows 30" apart so they take up relatively little garden space. They are also easy to plant. However, bush beans generally produce beans for a shorter period of time. In addition, if you have a lot of plants, they can be tiresome to harvest because you're constantly having to bend over to pick the beans. This problem can be mitigated a little bit if you plant your beans in raised rows and leave enough space between the rows to put a small stool to sit on when you're picking.
Pole bean plants need some sort of support structure - like a pole. A fence, trellis or cage will also work well. Their height is limited by the height of the support structure. Most people use support structures that are no more than 6-7 feet tall, as a ladder may be required to pick beans higher than that. Pole beans generally produce right up until the first frost arrives, as long as you continue to pick them. Pole beans are planted in mounds 3 feet apart, so they require more garden space. They also take more time to plant because you have to create the mounds and set up the support structure. But, if you take your time and create a support structure that you can use year after year, pole beans are probably your best option if you have the space. They are also easier to harvest, because the beans are often at waist or chest height, so you're not having to constantly bend over.
If you have limited time and garden space, bush beans are probably the way to go. If you have more time and garden space, pole beans will produce a larger crop over a longer period of time.
Most varieties of green beans are available in bush or pole plant types. This also includes purple and yellow bean varieties. These different colored beans are grown the same as green beans and usually have a similar taste.
When choosing which varieties of green beans you want to grow, think about what you want the actual green bean to look like. Some are fatter, while others are thin. Some varieties feature longer beans, others shorter. Some have a tougher string that needs to be removed, while others are less stringy and easier to snap.
To avoid having a large crop of beans that is ready for harvest all at one time, you can stagger your plantings over several weeks. For instance, if you plan on growing green beans and have room for 6 rows, plant 2 rows first. Then wait 2 weeks and plant another 2 rows. Plant the remaining 2 rows after another couple of weeks. The same principle can be applied to pole beans. By staggering your planting time, you will have a continuous supply of beans. However, if you are interested in canning your green beans, it's usually better to plant a bunch at one time. This way, the harvest comes all at once, and you'll have plenty of beans to load up enough jars to fill the pressure canner.
And speaking of pressure canners, here's a few options...
Green beans require at least 6-8 hours of daily direct sunlight and well-tilled, well-drained soil. They are also well suited to container gardening as each individual plant doesn't get that big.
Quick Overview of How to Grow Green Beans
Planting: Sow seeds 1 inch deep and 3 inches apart about 2 weeks after last expected frost, Thin to 1 plant every 6 inches
Watering: Keep soil evenly moist, green bean plants need approximately 1 inch of rain per week
Fertilizing: Use a balanced fertilizer and apply it once when planting and again when the blossoms appear
Harvesting: Pick the green beans when they reach the desired size
Recipes: Green beans can be steamed, boiled, broiled, sauteed, fried, roasted and eaten raw.
Click on the following links for more information about growing green beans.
Click here to move from our How To Grow Green Beans main page to our Planting Green Beans page
Click here to learn about watering and fertilizing green beans
Click here to learn about harvesting green beans
Click here for green bean recipe ideas