How to Grow Navy Beans in Your Own Garden

Navy beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) require a long growing season to fully mature. They do not do well in areas that receive fall rains. Considered a dry bean, the navy bean pod must fully dry out prior to harvest. Navy beans store well and fit well into a high protein/high fiber diet. The navy bean plant will normally attain a height of approximately 18 to 26 inches, according to the Thomas Jefferson Agricultural Institute's website. Each pod contains only two to four individual beans.

Shovel
General purpose 5-10-10 fertilizer
Shredded bark mulch
Ammonium nitrate
Pruning shears/clippers

Instructions

- 1
  Choose a planting location with full sunlight and well-draining soil conditions. Mix a general purpose fertilizer, such as 5-10-10, into the soil at a rate of 1 cup for every 50 feet of garden row. Work the fertilizer into the soil to a depth of approximately 6 inches.
- 2
  Plant navy beans after all danger of frost has passed. The beans will germinate adequately if the soil temperature is at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 3
  Place navy bean seeds 1 inch deep in the soil. Space the beans 2 to 4 inches apart. Space the garden rows 2 to 3 feet apart.
- 4
  Apply 2 to 3 inches of shredded bark mulch after the navy bean plants sprout. Navy bean plants have shallow root systems so weed around the plants carefully to avoid damaging the roots.
- 5
  Provide navy bean plants with 1 inch of water per week if the area does not sustain adequate rainfall. Apply water in the early morning hours so the navy bean plant's foliage has adequate time to dry out before nightfall.
- 6
  Harvest navy beans when they appear brown and completely dry to the touch, the University of Minnesota Extension advises. Gently pull or clip them from the plant.

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