Growing Beans - dwarf, also French beans, Bush beans

Phaseolus vulgaris : Fabaceae / the pea or legume family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
        P P            

(Best months for growing Beans - dwarf in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 61°F and 86°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 2 - 6 inches apart
  • Harvest in 7-10 weeks. Pick often to encourage more flower production.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Sweetcorn, spinach, lettuce, summer savory, dill, carrots, brassicas, beets, radish, strawberry and cucumbers, tagates minuta (wild marigold)
  • Avoid growing close to: Alliums (Chives, leek, garlic, onions) Sunflower

Your comments and tips

27 Dec 18, Scott McMillan (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Carol, 1: Have the plants been getting plenty of hours of sunlight, ie not shaded by other plants and well spaced apart? 2: Do you water regularly early morning? 3: Did you pick the beans early to encourage further production? 4: Was the soil prepared at all or do you use compost, worm tea or the like? 5: Any pest problems? 6: Do you mulch? Hope this helps Regards Scott
11 Apr 17, Nik (New Zealand - temperate climate)
dont worry it wasnt you this has been the worst growing season I have ever had cold wet spring followed by cold wet spring followed by cold wet summer means plants took ages to get going or died off (happened twice!!) and then I had to start again this applied to everything except I got 8 large pumpkins instead of 1 the year before I live in "sunny" nelson so the rest of NZ had no hope !!! Consider this your 1 in 10 year disaster year also consider planting one of each in a corner somewhere and saving the pods ( pick them when dry and brown and dry) for next years seed, the different colours of bean should grow equally well though you can also get purple and yellow climbing beans but yellow is a bit miserable compared to bush yellow plants good luck
01 Apr 17, Lynne Jones (Australia - temperate climate)
Growing Beans - over winter do not cover the soil with leaf matter where you are planning on growing your beans, this will encourage a breeding area for weevils, flea beetle, snails and slugs. Put out Yellow Sticky Traps at end or winter (late August) in the garden bed on a stick or on the fence close by to trap mite, thrip etc. Use potash & blood & bone in the bed prior to planting, check the pH if not done for 12 months. If you have a sandy soil use Dolomite for the magnesium. When plants have begun to flower use a side dressing of liquid manure or blood and bone to increase size of your crop. after 2 months put out fresh Yellow Sticky Traps. Water in the mornings.
25 Feb 17, Prakash Chandra (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Which is the last month for planting snake beans in nz sub-tropical.
06 Nov 16, Lynnette (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My dwarf banjo bean seedlings look like cucumber plants with roughish leaves is this correct. They don't look like what I thought beans should look like thank you
05 Nov 16, Barbara Hayes (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
This is the first time I have grown dwarf beans, they have started to die, they are going brown, then disappearing, I'm not sure if they are being eaten, I fed them when I planted them, & have get them watered, they are planted in a bed with beetroot, what can I do to save the rest of them With kind regards Barb Hayes
16 Dec 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Probably bean fly laying eggs just above the ground in the stem of the plant. The lave eat the inside of the plant stem - it just dies. I plant in the spring now not the autumn - problem solved.
29 Sep 16, Lynne (Australia - temperate climate)
My newly planted bush beans are being eaten by something I put pet friendly snail bait what do I do please. ?
30 Sep 16, Jim (Australia - temperate climate)
I have same problem and it was earwigs.Look for them at night.
23 Sep 16, Peter Oberthur (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
What bush beans should I plant that will not get destroyed by bean fly/bug. Generally my beans get to the flowering stage then the stem is attacked and they all fall over - dead. I live in Brisbane.
Showing 61 - 70 of 156 comments

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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