Beans are considered one of the easiest plants to grow and are one of the most popular plants chosen by gardeners. Beans are known for having fast germination times so expect to see some sprouts within 6-10 days of planting. The plant will start producing beans around 8-10 weeks after planting. You’ll get baskets and baskets of long, slender, smooth pods about 6.5″ long that are a beautiful dark green or purple color.
How to Grow Beans:
*Seeds do best when sown directly into warm outside soil once all danger of frost has passed.
Bean seeds are nice and large so they’re a good seed for little gardeners to help plant.
Indoors
- Seeds should be started indoors 3 weeks before you plan to put your plants outside in the warm soil.
- Plant the bean seed no deeper than 4x the width of the seed, or about an inch below the surface.
Outdoors
- Space bush varieties 2-3 inches apart in rows spaced 18-24 inches apart.
- Space pole varieties 6-8 inches apart in rows 36 inches apart.
- Plant the seed no deeper than 4x the width of the seed.
Transplanting
- Once there are at least two sets of true leaves your bean plant is ready to be transplanted.
Harvest
- Keep your bean plant picks so they it will stimulate more beans to grow.
- Snap or cut beans from the plant, do not tear the plant.
- Beans can be kept fresh for about 4 days, or blanched and frozen immediately after harvesting.
- Beans can also be canned or pickled.
- If you’re planning to keep your beans as dry beans allow them to dry on the plant and begin to turn brown.
Growing Tips
- Pick beans before they are fully mature.
- Beans like to be watered regularly, but don’t like to be constantly wet so water on sunny days where the excess will evaporate.
- Stagger your plantings every two weeks until 2 months before the last frost so you get beans all season long and don’t have all your plants producing at once.
Pests to Watch For:
- Aphids
- Japanese Beetles
- White Mold
- Mexican Bean Beetles
- Mosaic Viruses
