The Best Type of Soil for Pole Beans

Good Drainage

• Pole beans like loose, well-drained soil in full sun. In areas with heavy soil or poor drainage, pole beans do best in raised beds.

Clay and Hard Soils

• Soils that are hard, crusty or full of clay are not desirable. In areas with hard or clay soils, the soil must be heavily supplemented to loosen it or raised beds can be used with amended soil.

Soil Conditioning

• Soil that has been worked to a depth of 8 to 10 inches is ideal. The addition of compost is desirable, along with aged manure or organic fertilizer.

Soil pH

• The best soil pH for pole beans is 5.8 to 6.0, but they will do well in a pH range of 5.5 to 6.5. Alkaline soils above pH 7.5 need added iron to prevent chlorosis. Acidic soils, below 5.5, can be corrected by the addition of lime to raise the pH.

Rotation

• Soil-borne diseases are avoided by rotating pole bean crops on a three-year cycle. In areas with root rot, a four- to five-year rotation is best. Pole beans are moved to a new location each year, rotating back to their original location after the appropriate number of years.