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Beans Planting & Growing Guide

What edible garden is complete without a few Beans? So much nutrition for so little effort! No matter what type of Bean you grow, you’ll find yourself reaping a harvest that will keep you picking for days. And not only are they good for you, they’re also good for your garden. Beans, like all members of legume family, have nitrogen-fixing nodules on their roots that actually release nitrogen into your soil, leaving it more fertile than when you first planted them. Follow these few simple tips and you’ll soon be enjoying a bounty of Beans!

Success Snapshot

PLANTING
DEPTH

Plant root ball slightly below soil line. Provide mulch after 6 in. tall.

WATER
QUANTITY

Moderate

SUNLIGHT
QUANTITY

Full Sun

PLANTING
PROXIMITY

Variety specifc

BLOOM
SEASON

Summer Harvest

HARDINESS
ZONES

Zones 8-10 is best or greenhouse. Generally needs a long, warm growing season similar to tomatoes.

Where to Plant Beans

Plant your Beans in full sun in well-draining soil. Beans can be grown in the ground or in a container but be sure to note if your plant is a bush variety or a vining variety. Vining beans will require a trellis, teepee, or other support structure.


When to Plant Beans

Plant in spring once the weather has warmed. In warmer climates, Beans can also be planted in late summer for a fall harvest.


How to Plant Beans

  • Find a location with full sun and well-draining soil. If you notice that water still puddles 5 to 6 hours after a hard rain, it's best to find a different spot or plant in a container or raised bed.
  • Plant your Beans as soon as possible after they arrive. If you can’t plant immediately, make sure to give them a drink of water and set them somewhere out of direct sun and wind until you can get them planted.
  • Dig a hole the same depth as the nursery container. Remove the plant from the container and set in the hole. If the roots look compacted, it’s okay to gently loosen them a bit. Fill the hole with soil and tamp down firmly.
  • Plant vining Beans 10–12” apart.
  • Plant bush Beans 12–18” apart.
  • Water thoroughly after planting to settle the soil around the roots.

How to Grow Beans

  • Water every week; 1” of water is a good estimate. Drip irrigation or soaker hoses help get the water right at the roots with minimal evaporation and reduce the spread of diseases like powdery mildew.
  • Add a light mulch of compost to the surrounding soil to improve drainage and keep competing weeds at bay.
  • Apply a balanced fertilizer if plants appear yellow or spindly, but as a rule Beans don’t need much fertilizer.

Beans Tips & Tricks

  • Allow vining varieties to twine themselves around a trellis—no tying required!
  • Watch for and handpick beetles, which can do a lot of damage. Floating row covers can be used to prevent an infestation.
  • Harvest string beans when they start to mature and the beans inside the pods start to swell. Keep picking every day; plants will stop producing if too many beans are left to mature on the vine.
  • Harvest soy beans (edamame) when the pods are bright green and the beans inside are plump. The entire crop of soy beans will be ready for picking within a 7- to 10-day span, after which they will be overripe.