The Best Way to Grow a Bean Plant

Bush Beans

• Bush beans are considered to require the least amount of work when growing beans. The bush bean varieties are low to the ground and bushy in growth. Many varieties of beans, however, have both bush and pole bean varieties, such as green beans and lima beans.

  Plant bush bean varieties into rich and well-draining dry soil after the last spring frost has thawed away. The soil can be slightly moist, but the bean plant flourishes best when the moisture content of the soil is low. The depth of the planted seed should not exceed 1 inch. Space the seeds 2 to 4 inches apart and in rows spaced 18 to 24 inches apart. Add compost or light fertilizer to the soil if you wish to give the beans a kick-start to growing.

  Water the area right after you plant the seeds and not again for five days. The area should be lightly watered once weekly unless you have rainfall in the area. If so, water again one full week after rainfall.

  The beans should begin to mature in 55 to 75 days. Pick the beans when the pods are still tender.

Pole Beans

• Pole bean varieties of the bean plants are vine crawling plants. These are considered more cumbersome in gardening work, as they require a trellis, pole or other support system to keep them off of the ground. The pole beans are also cleaner due to their distance from the ground and easier to pick. Pole bean varieties typically take slightly longer to reach maturity than that of bush beans. The most common of the pole bean variety are green beans.

  Pole beans should be planted at 1 inch deep in well-draining dry soil. Stake the pole or support system that you prefer on the hill in the center the bean planting area. Plant the seeds using a hill-planting method, one small mound for every four to six bean seeds. Space the hills 30 inches apart, with 30 inches in between your rows. Water just after you plant and once a week thereafter for the rest of the growing time. As the bean plant sprouts and begins growing, move it closer to the pole. The plant will instinctively climb up the pole after a little nudging.

  Harvest the beans after about 70 days for early sprouters. Depending on your variety of pole beans, adjust the harvest time as needed.