Different Ways to Grow Beans

Garden Plots

• Pole and bush beans grow well in rows in the standard garden. A freestanding plant, bush beans need no support when growing. Pole beans grow best when the plant has a support to climb during the season. Plant the beans when the soil temperature is above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Beans do not germinate in cold or wet soil. Plant right before expected rainfall or water the seeds after planting. Some varieties of beans are susceptible to a disease known as bean mosaic. To avoid the disease, water the plants in the morning and don't work with the plants when they are wet. Choose varieties that are bred to be disease resistant.

Container Growing

• Select bush beans for container growing, as the plants are compact. Use a quality potting soil and a planter with good drainage when growing beans in a container. Container plants do not receive the same moisture from the soil as plants that grow in the garden, so water the bean plants daily to provide enough water for blossoming and fruit production. Harvest the beans when the pods swell slightly. Constant harvesting causes the plants to flower and produce more beans.

Trellis Gardening

• Grow pole beans on a trellis that supports the plants as they grow. Attach the trellis to two support poles. Train the plants as they grow by gently pulling the tendrils up to the trellis. The bean plants will secure themselves to the trellis and continue to climb through the growing season. If you prefer a less permanent growing system, set the poles in two 5-gallon buckets filled halfway with concrete. Set the buckets in the garden and suspend the trellis from the poles. Remove the trellis and buckets after the beans are harvested.

Hanging Baskets

• Pole beans also do well when grown in hanging baskets, where the plants hang down as they grow. The drawback is the weight of the plants. As the beans develop and mature, they may cause the stems to break. To avoid breakage, run several strings down from the plant and anchor the strings to the ground with a wire fastener. Train the plants to grow on the strings as they mature.