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Growing Dwarf beans, also French beans, Bush beans

(Phaseolus vulgaris)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
P	P	P	P				P	P	P	P	P

(Best months for planting Dwarf beans in Australia - sub-tropical regions)

P = Plant direct in garden where they are to grow.

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 16°C and 30°C. (Show °F/in)
Space plants: 5 - 15 cm apart
Harvest in 7-10 weeks. Pick often to encourage more flower production.
Compatible with: Sweetcorn, spinach, lettuce, summer savory, dill, carrots, brassicas, beets, radish, strawberry and cucumbers
Avoid growing with: Alliums (Chives, leek, garlic, onions) Sunflower

A dwarf bean seedling
Bush/Dwarf beans

Frost tender, die off in winter. 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 Dwarf beans

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

Your comments and tips

09 Jan 12, bob g (Australia - temperate climate): Yes Peter, I've been doing it for years. Also, if you want to grow peas [spring crop] Buy a bag of dried peas from your supermarket - off the shelf where they keep split peas, lentils etc. Much cheaper and great crop. If you have problems with powdery mildew, spray with a mixture of one part full cream milk to twelve parts water.
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08 Jan 12, Peter F (Australia - temperate climate): Can you use dried dwarf beans for replanting.
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07 Dec 11, sali (Australia - temperate climate): yes i grew my plant and just in tow weeks it was like 20cm
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23 Oct 11, Kelly (Australia - temperate climate): Hi! I recently sowed some dwarf bean seeds and they have sprouted. They are now about 20cm high but I've noticed today some curling of the leaves on 2 of the plants. I'm hoping someone can tell me what the problem is so I can fix it quickly Thanks
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27 Aug 11, (Australia - tropical climate): try an organic spray
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16 May 11, arthur (Australia - temperate climate): Dwarf beans May the 10. Do you add lime to to your soil a coup[e of weeks before planting beans-peas, cabbage etc? Soil balance is important.Arthur. (only small amounts)
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10 May 11, Leanne (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I planted my bean seedlings 2-3weeks ago and I noticed that the leaves all have white/yellow spots on them. Any idea what might be wrong with them or what I need to do?
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05 Oct 10, Jumbee (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Bean seeds germinated properly and I have planted as directed in the packet. Should I put any support for the plants for climbing? Or its okay to let them grow by their own? because I found the stem is very soft. Thank you.
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10 Dec 10, steven (Australia - temperate climate): I have the same question do I need to use stakes or some other form of support ?
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15 Feb 11, Alexis (Australia - temperate climate): Hi - you don't need to stake dwarf or bush beans. They only grow to 40-60 cm tall and support themselves. Climbing beans, on the other hand, of course need something to climb up.
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See planting calendar for these countries and climate zones

Australia - arid, Australia - cool/mountain, Australia - sub-tropical, Australia - temperate, Australia - tropical, New Zealand - cool/mountain, New Zealand - sub-tropical, New Zealand - temperate, South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical, South Africa - Humid sub-tropical, South Africa - Semi-arid, South Africa - Summer rainfall, United Kingdom - cool/temperate, United Kingdom - warm/temperate, USA - Central West Coast, USA - Maritime Northwest, USA - Mid-Atlantic, USA - North East, USA - South East and Gulf States, USA - South West, USA - Upper Midwest

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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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