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Crop Guide

How to grow bush beans

Legume · Moderate water needs · Frost-sensitive

Primary source · UMN Extension ↗
Bush Beans
Moisture range
40–60%
Days to maturity
50–65
Light
—
Growing Degree Units
1100 · base 50°F
When to plant bush beans where you garden
Indoor-start, transplant and harvest dates, counted from your own frost dates.
See planting calendar →
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Growing notes

Bush beans are upright plants that do not need support, growing about two feet tall. They have a shorter period of flowering and pod set, although they may continue to flower and produce pods as long as you regularly harvest them.

Harvest signs

Iowa State Extension ↗

Harvest snap beans when the pods are young and firm, and the seeds are small. At this stage the pods are generally the diameter of a pencil and 4 to 6 inches long

▶Planting reference— Depth, spacing, pH
Depth
1 to 1½ inches deep
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Spacing
3 to 4 inches between plants (bush beans after thinning) · Rows: 2 feet apart
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pH range
6–7
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▶Pests & diseases— cutworms, bean leaf beetles, aphids, spider mites, +3 more
Common pests · 4
Cutworms: can cut young bean plants off at the base ↗
Bean leaf beetles: feed on bean leaves, which can be very detrimental when plants are small. They can also feed on pods ↗
Aphids: can colonize plants in large numbers. You may notice leaf curling, discoloration, and sticky leaves ↗
Spider mites: can feed on leaves, giving them a bleached or bronzed appearance (During periods of hot, dry weather) ↗
Common diseases · 3
Viruses: can cause bean plants to be odd shades of green with twisted, bumpy, or otherwise distorted leaves ↗
Bacterial blight: causes brown spots with yellow halos on the leaves ↗
White mold: causes stems to rot and wilt ↗

Companions & antagonists

Plant near:CornCucumberPotatoCarrot
Keep apart from:Onion
Tip: Compact variety, good for containers

Common questions

How much water does bush beans need?

Bush Beans has middle-of-the-road water needs. Aim to keep soil moisture around 40–60%, letting the top inch dry slightly between waterings rather than staying soggy.

Can I grow bush beans in a raised bed or container?

Yes — bush beans does well in raised beds and is happy in a decent-sized container too, as long as drainage is good.

Does bush beans come back every year?

No — bush beans is an annual. It completes its life in one season, so you replant it each year.