What Are Bush Beans?

Plant Characteristics

• Bush beans grow in a bushy plant form that does not require supports like pole beans do. They grow during the warm season, and gardeners consider them easy to grow. Bush beans generally reach heights between 1 and 3 feet tall and widths of 1 to 2 feet. They produce white flowers in middle or later summer followed by beans. Although usually green, bush bean plants can also produce yellow or purple beans.

Beans

• Bush beans require between 50 and 60 days to produce beans after planting. Harvest bush beans when they give an audible snapping sound when broken off. Old bush beans have an undesirable stringy texture and beans that are too young wilt easily after the harvest. For the best flavor, use beans immediately, keep in the refrigerator or blanch and then freeze them.

Plant Care

• Bush beans grow best in full sunlight but can tolerate partial shade. They like well-drained soil and consistent moisture. The beans only require moderately fertile soil. To have a longer-lasting supply of bush beans, make a new planting every couple weeks from the last frost until late summer.

Pros and Cons

• Bush beans require less preparation to grow than pole beans because they do not require you to install any plant supports. However, gardeners with very small yards may prefer pole beans, which utilize vertical space more efficiently than bush beans. Bush beans can also be somewhat temperature-sensitive, and they do not grow well in soil temperatures below 60 degrees Fahrenheit or in weather above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, gardeners in areas with extremely hot summer temperatures might have short windows of time to grow bush beans at the beginning and end of summer.