Phaseolus vulgaris
Easy to grow and highly productive, green beans are perfect for succession planting and provide harvests all summer long.
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Till lightly and amend with compost but avoid fresh manure, which causes lush foliage at the expense of pods. Beans fix their own nitrogen, so skip heavy fertilizers.
Provide 1 inch of water weekly in spring and increase to 1.5 inches during flowering and pod fill. Water at soil level to keep foliage dry.
Inoculate seed with rhizobia before planting to enhance nitrogen fixation. Top-dress with compost after the first harvest if plants look tired.
Install trellises or teepees for pole beans before sowing. With bush beans, keep rows narrow for easy picking and airflow.
Harvest pods when they snap cleanly before seeds bulge. Pick every two days for a steady flush. Store beans in a loose bag in the refrigerator for up to five days or blanch and freeze.
These plants grow well together and can provide mutual benefits like pest control, improved soil health, and efficient space usage.
Watch out for these common pests and diseases. Early detection and prevention are key to maintaining healthy plants.
| Issue | How to fix it |
|---|---|
| Mexican bean beetle damage | Hand pick adults and larvae, use floating row cover early in the season, and release parasitic wasps. |
| Pods tough and stringy | Harvest earlier and water consistently to avoid stress that toughens pods. |
| Leaves yellowing from the bottom | Check for water stress or fungal issues; remove affected foliage and ensure good airflow. |
Early bush bean with excellent germination in cool soil and heavy yields.
Classic pole bean with tender, stringless pods ideal for canning or freezing.
Heirloom bush bean with mottled purple pods that stay crisp when cooked.
Check out our companion planting guides and learn about creating productive plant guilds for your garden.
