The Stages of a Bean Plant

Stage 1: Germination

• A seed contains two sides called cotyledons that reserve food for the plant in the first days of growth. Due to the storage of food in the seed, the bean needs nothing but water and warm temperatures in its first stage of life. When the bean starts to germinate, the root emerges from the seed, and the seed separates into two parts. The stem of the bean plant emerges from the two halves and forms two leaves.

Stage 2: Flowering

• The second stage of a bean plant's life is flowering, which occurs after six weeks of germination in warm temperatures and sunlight. According to the variety of the bean that was planted, the flower buds will be various colors.

Stage 3: Fruiting

• Within a few weeks, the flower buds on the bean plant will start to turn into fruits that are large and pod-shaped.

Stage 4: Harvesting

• In the final stage of the bean plant's life cycle, the grower gets to enjoy the fruits, or beans, of his or her labor by harvesting the beans. The beans can be eaten fresh, or they can be dried and stored in a cool, dark place for several years. The soil that the plants grew in can be used for other crops due to the rich nutrients left behind by the bean plants.