Information on Soil Types to Grow Beans

Growing Beans in Clay Soils

• Clay soils contain excellent nutrition for growing green beans, but the soil needs to be amended with organic materials that will lighten the soil in the form of composted manure or bagged compost. Beans do not like their roots disturbed, so mixing in plenty of organic matter before they are planted is a must. Water retention in clay soils can be a problem, as well, so without adding organic matter to help the soil drain, the beans are at risk of root rot after a heavy rain. Overly wet soils also cause their blossoms to drop, which decreases their fruit production.

Growing Beans in Silty Soil

• Silty soils are ideal for growing green beans since the texture of silty soils easily allows the roots of the beans to grow. Silty soils have a medium texture and are well aerated.

Growing Beans in Sandy Soils

• Beans grown in sandy soils need plenty of organic matter. These soils lack the nutrition to support the food demands of green beans and the soils drain quickly. As with clay soils, the organic matter needs to be added before planting so that the plants' roots are not disturbed once they have sprouted.

Adjusting pH of Soils for Growing Beans

• Beans are particular about the pH of the soil. The pH is a measure of its alkalinity or acidity. It's a good idea to test the soil's pH every few years to grow beans successfully by taking a soil sample to a lab or the local agricultural extension office, or using a home testing kit.

  Adding plenty of organic matter helps balance both acidic and alkaline soils, although if the soil is highly acidic, lowering the pH with soil sulfur will decrease the alkalinity effectively. Highly acidic soils can be made neutral by applying lime to the soil. The applications of both lime and sulfur should be made well ahead of planting so the soil chemistry has time to change.