Growing Beans - dwarf, also French beans, Bush beans

Phaseolus vulgaris : Fabaceae / the pea or legume family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
        P P            

(Best months for growing Beans - dwarf in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 61°F and 86°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 2 - 6 inches apart
  • Harvest in 7-10 weeks. Pick often to encourage more flower production.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Sweetcorn, spinach, lettuce, summer savory, dill, carrots, brassicas, beets, radish, strawberry and cucumbers, tagates minuta (wild marigold)
  • Avoid growing close to: Alliums (Chives, leek, garlic, onions) Sunflower
  • A dwarf bean seedling
  • Bush/Dwarf beans

Traditionally sown in rows, dwarf beans also grow well 'broadcast' or scattered over an area. Just scatter the seed (don't worry about the odd ones which are close up). Cover with soil, potting mix, or compost and firm down with the back of a spade or rake. Grown this way the beans will mostly shade out competing weeds and 'self-mulch'.

Keep watered and watch for shield bugs and green caterpillars Pick the beans regularly to encourage new flowers. Flowering will slow right down if you let the beans get too large (hard and stringy) on the plants. For a continuous crop, plant more seed as soon as the previous planting starts to flower. Protect against snails and slugs - they will completely destroy newly sprouted beans, and will eat the leaves off grown plants.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Beans - dwarf

Can be used in salads when young, blanched and cooled.
Will freeze well.

Your comments and tips

23 Aug 23, Sugu (USA - Zone 10b climate)
Hi, Can I sow Yard Long Bean Seeds and Purple Hyacinth Bean Seeds in the month of August?
26 Jun 23, CM (USA - Zone 9b climate)
hi friends, have any of you tried to grow garbanzo beans in zone 9b or anywhere with similar climate? any suggestions? or things to be wary of that you experienced? thanks for sharing xx
09 Jul 22, Lorraine (USA - Zone 9a climate)
Do you need to trellis bush beans and how much sun do they need a day? Will they do well if they get 3 hours morning sun, then shade for 3 hours and then 3 hours of sun again in the afternoon? I want to be able to can (preserve) my beans so I need them to produce roughly around the same time....for enough to can would you suggest the scattered planting method?
12 Jul 22, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
No need to trellis but what you do is hill the soil up around the stem when they are half grown to support the plant. As much sun as you can within reason. Keep picking and you will get 3-4 flushes of beans over 2-3 weeks, as they won't mature all at the same time.
23 Apr 22, Chris (USA - Zone 10b climate)
Why can’t bush beans be planted near sunflowers?
26 Apr 22, Anonymous (USA - Zone 5b climate)
The flowers would shade the beans too much.
26 Mar 22, Annette (USA - Zone 8a climate)
I am interested in planting my bush beans in a 3ft tall 5ft wide planter. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you
29 Mar 22, Anonymous (USA - Zone 4a climate)
Plant in rows. Plant and water well then don't water for 3-4 days. Then lightly. Leave until they germinate.
13 Apr 16, George Turner (USA - Zone 5a climate)
I am interested in planting dwarf bush beans in aquaponic beds in a green house. They need to be self pollinating and prunable to maximize production in as small an area as possible.

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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