Green beans–also called snap beans–are tender annuals best planted shortly after the last frost in spring. Snap beans are grown for fresh eating or for canning.

The color of snap beans can vary. Green beans are green but other snap beans are often yellow, purple, or speckled counting on the variability . Yellow snap beans are sometimes called wax beans.

The pod size of snap beans can vary as well; some are just 3 to 4 inches (7-10cm) long others are 6 to eight inches (15-20cm) long or longer, and pods are often round or flat.

• Sow snap beans within the garden just after the typical date of the last frost in spring.
• To get an early start on the season, sow snap beans indoors as early as 3 or 4 weeks before the typical last frost date for transplanting into the garden every week or two after the last frost.
• Bush snap beans are compact growers, about 24 inches (61cm) wide and tall.
• Pole snap beans are tall growers, as tall as 8 to 10 feet (2.4-3m) growing on a trellis or support.
• Pods on bush beans come to reap over a two-week period; pole bean plants will produce pods for a month or more.
• For continuous fresh harvest through the season, sow a succession crop of bush snap beans every fortnight.
• Snap beans can continue within the garden until the primary frost in fall.
• Beans won’t set pods in temperatures above 80°F (26.7°C).

WHERE TO PLANT BEANS

• Grow beans fully sun, 8 hours of sun or more every day . Beans will grow in partial shade but the harvest won’t be full.
• Grow beans in well-drained soil rich in organic matter.
• Prepare planting beds beforehand by working 2 to three inches (5-7cm) of aged compost into the soil.
• Avoid planting beans where soil nitrogen is high or where manure crops have just grown; these beans will produce green foliage but few beans.
• Beans prefer a soil pH of 6.0 to 6.8.
• More on planting at Preparing to Plant Beans.Snap bean seedlings

Sow snap beans within the garden after the last frost in spring.

BEANS PLANTING TIME

• Beans grow best in temperatures between 50° and 85°F (10-29°C).
• The optimal growing soil temperature for beans is 60° to 85°F (15-
• 29°C).
• Start beans indoors as early as 3 or 4 weeks before the typical last frost to urge a start on the season.
• Start beans indoors in biodegradable peat or paper pots which will be set whole into the garden so as to not disturb plant roots. Beans might not survive transplanting if their roots are disturbed.
• Set transplants within the garden fortnight after the last frost.
• Start beans from seed within the garden fortnight after the last frost.
• Sow bush beans every fortnight for endless harvest or follow bush beans with longer-maturing pole beans.
• Beans won’t set pods in temperatures above 80°F (26.7°C). Time your plantings to avoid weather .
• Beans can continue within the garden until the primary frost in fall.
• In mild-winter regions, beans are often sown in autumn for winter harvest.
• More tips: Beans Seed Starting Tips.

PLANTING AND SPACING BEANS

• Plant bean seeds 1 to 1½ inch (2.5-3.8cm) deep, a touch deeper in loose, sandy soil.
• The minimum soil temperature for starting bean seeds within the garden is 50°F (10°C).
• Plant bush beans 3 to 4 inches apart; set rows 18 to 24 inches (45-61cm) apart.
• Plant pole beans 4 to six inches apart; set rows 30 to 36 inches (76-91cm)apart.
• Pole beans can also be planted on small hills or mounds–5 or 6 seeds to a hill; space hills 40 inches (101cm) apart.
• Set a trellis, teepee poles or stakes, or other supports in situ at planting time.
• Bean seeds will germinate in 8 to 10 days at 70°F (21°C).
• Thin to the strongest seedlings from 4 to six inches (10-15cm) apart. Remove weaker seedlings by cutting them off at soil level with scissors being careful to not disturb the roots of the remaining seedlings.
• Beans are often crowded at planting time; they’re going to use one another for support.
• Grow 4 to eight bean plants per household member.

WATERING BEANS

• Grow beans in soil that’s evenly moist. Give bean plants 1 to 1½ inches (2.5-3.8cm) of water hebdomadally.
• Do not soak seeds beforehand of planting and don’t over-water after sowing. Bean seeds may crack and germinate poorly if the soil moisture is just too high at sowing.
• Keep the soil evenly moist during flowering and pod formation. Beans in dry soil won’t flower or set pods.
• Rain or overhead irrigation during flowering can cause flowers and little pods to fall off. Overhead watering also will leave beans vulnerable to disease.
• Mulch to conserve moisture once the soil temperature is bigger than 60°F (15.6°C).

FEEDING BEANS

• Beans are best fertilized with aged garden compost or commercial organic planting mix. Both are rich in plant nutrients.
• Beans fix their own nitrogen; they found out a mutual exchange with soil nitrogen-fixing bacteria which produces the soil nitrogen beans require.
• Fertilizing beans with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer will end in green leafy growth and few pods.
• Avoid using green manures or nitrogen-rich fertilizers beforehand of planting beans.
  
  More tips: Bean Growing Tips.

COMPANION PLANTS

• Plant bush beans alongside celery, corn, cucumbers, potatoes, rosemary, strawberries, summer savory.
• Plant pole beans with corn, rosemary, summer savory, scarlet runner beans, sunflowers.
• Do not plant beans with onions, beets, or kohlrabi.

Set tripods in situ before planting pole beans. Select supports that are tall enough for the variability being grown.

CARING FOR BEANS

• Set poles, stakes, or trellises in situ before planting pole beans. Select supports that are tall enough for the variability being grown.
• Keep weeds far away from beans; weeds compete for soil moisture and harbor pests and diseases.
• Cultivate around beans carefully to avoid disturbing the shallow rootage.
• Do not handle beans once they are wet; this might spread fungus spores.
• Do not grow beans within the same spot per annum. Rotate beans to plots where lettuce, squash, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, or collards have grown within the past year or two.

GROWING BEANS IN CONTAINERS

• Bush beans are often grown in containers, but you’ll need several containers for a practical harvest.
• Beans will grow in 8-inch (20cm) wide and deep containers or larger.

BEAN PESTS

• Beans are often attacked by aphids, Mexican bean beetles, flea beetles, cucumber beetles, leafhoppers, mites, and slugs.
• Aphids, leafhoppers, and mites are often sprayed away with a blast of water from the hose or controlled with insecticidal soap. Search for eggs and infestations and crush them between your fingers and thumb. Pinch out and take away large infestations.
• Mexican bean beetles, cucumber beetles, and flea beetles can skeletonize leaves. Hand-pick adults, larvae, and egg masses. Spray large populations with insecticidal soap, vegetable oil, or kaolin.
• Control slugs with diatomite spread around the base of plants.
• More tips: Bean Growing Problems: Troubleshooting.

BEAN DISEASES

• Beans are vulnerable to mildew, anthracnose, blight, and mosaic virus.
• Plant disease-resistant varieties.
• Keep the garden clean and free from debris. Weeds and debris can host insects that carry disease.
• Avoid handling plants once they are wet so as to not spread fungal spores.
• Remove diseased plants; put them during a sack and put them within the trash.
• Beans are vulnerable to many soil-borne diseases; rotating beans in order that they are doing not grow within the same location quite every three years will reduce soil-borne diseases.
• Spray-mist beans with compost tea or a mixture of 1 part skimmed milk to 9 parts water; both are anti-fungal solutions.
• Beans ready for harvest

Pick green or snap beans when pods are young and tender, about 3 inches long or simply before seeds begin to bulge and grow plump.

HARVESTING BEANS

• Bush beans are going to be ready for harvest 50 to 60 after sowing.
• Pole beans are going to be ready for harvest 60 to 90 days after harvest.
• Pick green or snap beans when pods are young and tender, about 3 inches long or simply before seeds begin to bulge and grow plump.
• Bean pods that are bulging are going to be past their peak.
• Cut or snap beans off of the plant; take care to not tear pods from branches.
• Continue to pick pods before they become mature in order that the plant will continue flowering and producing new pods.
• When seeds mature on the bush or vine, the plant will die.
• Avoid harvesting beans when the weather is extremely hot or very cold.
  Harvest tips: the way to Harvest and Store Beans.

STORING AND PRESERVING BEANS

Unshelled green beans are often maintained to at least one week within the refrigerator.
Store beans in plastic bags or moisture-proof, airtight containers. don’t wash beans before refrigerating.
Shelled beans are often blanched and frozen for up to three months.
Snap beans harvested

Green beans are green but other snap beans are often yellow, purple, or speckled counting on the variability .

BEAN VARIETIES TO GROW

The most commonly grown beans are the green or snap and therefore the yellow or wax variety. Most green or snap beans are stringless since 1894 when Burpee introduced the stringless green pod bean.

Pods on bush beans come to reap over a two week period. Stagger the planting of bush beans for endless harvest. Pole bean plants will produce for a month or more.

Here are four classic green beans to grow:

‘Kentucky Wonder’: an heirloom pole bean variety that produces 8-inch long pods on 6- to 8-foot (1.8-2.4m) long vines.
‘Bountiful’: bush bean to plant for those extra early summer harvests and also late summer plantings for harvest before first fall frost.
‘Bush Blue Lake’: bush plants with heavy yields of flavorful pods that are tender and crisp.
‘Fortex’: “filet” beans with dark green, extra slender 7-inch (17cm) pods.
Here are several recommended varieties:

Green or snap bush beans: ‘Astro’ (53 days); ‘Blue Lake’ (56 days); ‘Contender’ (53 day); ‘Derby’ (55 days); ‘Gator Green’ (55 days); ‘Greensleeves’ (56 days); ‘Provider’ (53 days); ‘Slenderette’ (53 days); ‘Tendercrop’ (53 days); ‘Tendergreen’ (57 days); ‘Tendercrop’ (53 days); ‘Triumph’ (52 days); ‘White-Seeded Provider’ (50 days).
Yellow wax bush beans: ‘Brittle Wax’ (55 days); ‘Cherokee’ (55 days); ‘Earlywax Golden Yellow’ (50 days); ‘Goldcrop’ (50 days); ‘Gold Mine’ (47 days); ‘Gold Rush’ (54 days); ‘Kinghorn’ (50 days); ‘Pencil Rod’ (52 days); ‘Sunrae’ (55 days); ‘Wax Romano’ (59 days).
Purple bush beans: ‘Purple Queen’ (55 days).
Green pole green or snap beans: ‘Blue Lake Pole’ (65 days); ‘Kentucky Wonder’ (60 days); ‘McCaslan’ (65 days); ‘Northeaster’ (60 days); ‘Scarlet Emperor’ (100 days); ‘Scarlett Runner’ (65 days); ‘Yard Long Beans’ (80 days).
Yellow and purple pole snap beans: ‘Cascade Giant’ (60 days); ‘Kentucky Wonder Wax’ (65 days); ‘Purple Pole’ (65 days) ‘Yellow Annelino’ (60 days).
Beans you’ll grow: Bean Varieties: Best Bets and Easy-to-Grow.