Bean Plant Growth Results

Pole Bean Features

• Pole beans and runner beans produce long vines that can grow to 12 feet or more, depending upon the variety and the growing conditions. The vines are genetically programmed to wrap themselves around some type of support, which can be poles or groups of poles tied together, called tee-pees. As the vines lengthen, blossoms appear that are actually the tips of the tiny new beans, which continue to enlarge, resulting in a bountiful harvest sometime in August or September. Both the standard green and yellow wax bean varieties are slow growers and are more labor intensive from the point of view of needing support, but the result is that they produce over a longer period of time, and harvesting doesn't require any bending over. Scarlet runner beans have the added bonus of producing bright red blossoms throughout the growing season and are sometimes grown for their ornamental value.

Bush Bean Features

• Bush beans produce a similar product to pole beans, but the plants are much smaller and require no staking. They are planted in rows, and some varieties are bred to hold their beans up off the ground, resulting in somewhat easier picking. Bush beans mature sooner than pole beans and normally produce a single crop within a few days. Varieties include the standard green bean as well as yellow wax beans, which have a milder flavor.

Growth Requirements

• Both bush and pole beans require warm weather to germinate, as cold damp weather sometimes results in the beans rotting before they sprout. The soil should be at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit, loose and easily workable, as beans have a tough time in hard compacted soil. Choose a sunny site where the soil drains well, and work in lots of organic material such as compost or aged manure. Don't worry about nitrogen requirements, because beans, like all legumes, manufacture their own through their roots, a process known as nitrogen fixing.

Planting Beans

• For best results, plant bush beans about 3 inches apart in rows at least 2 feet apart. Spread a 2-inch-deep layer of mulch around the plants to minimize weeds and retain moisture. Plant pole beans in rows or in hills. For the row method, space the seeds roughly 3 inches apart, thinning to no less than 12 inches once established. For the hill method, plant a group of 5 to 6 seeds in a circle, making sure that they are at least 6 inches apart, and install a tee-pee support system. It is sometimes necessary to train pole beans to climb, which is done by simply wrapping the ends of the vines gently around the support. In extremely hot, dry weather, supply additional moisture, as beans do not tolerate drought.

Harvest Results

• Pick bush beans when they are about 5 to 6 inches long and firm. Pole beans are ready when they are about 7 to 9 inches long and firm, and you should pick regularly to encourage production. Both types can be left on the plants to dry and then stored in a cool, dark place as you would any other type of dry bean.