Beans

Green Beans, also called String Beans, French beans (or Haricot Vert), or Snap Beans, are native to the Americas. The name “String Bean” started because the most common varieties originally had a string (plant fiber) that ran along the seams. These had to be removed by hand, and “stringing beans,” or removing the strings, was a common chore before the strings were bred out of many green beans by approx. the 1950s. 

Green Beans originated in western South America and were likely first cultivated by the Incas. They spread throughout both continents and were a known crop of many tribes in North America, including the Iroquois. Western history shows that Christopher Columbus brought the green bean to Europe, and it was first cultivated there in the areas surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. 

Snap beans go well with just about anything. They pair well with most seasonings, with butter and garlic being popular favorites with this staple vegetable. They are nutritious too! They are high in vitamin K and calcium, have lots of fiber, and lots of antioxidants. Any green bean is perfect for a low-carb diet.

• Green Beans: Phaseolus vulgaris
• Annual
• Full sun
• Plant after the last frost
• Soil should be slightly acidic (6.0pH to 7.0pH)
• Fertile well-draining soil
• Seeds starting (Bush Beans):

          1-1/2″ deep

          rows 18-36″ apart 

1-3” apart in each row

• Seeds starting (Pole Beans):

          1-1/2″ deep

          rows 30-36″ apart with a trellis

          4-6” apart in each row

• Do not transplant, sow in a garden bed
• Climate Zones 3-10

There are dozens of varieties of this delicious vegetable. Bush-type green beans are low-growing plants that produce their crop in a short time-frame and are easily harvested. These should be planted in rows, 18 to 24 inches apart. In each row, plant the beans about 12” apart, and about 1 to 1 1/2 inches deep. No support is necessary, they don’t grow higher than 2 feet tall. 

Pole-type green beans grow well in most home gardens. These plants will produce for well over a month when regularly harvested. Pole bean rows should be 36 inches apart, and inside each row, plant them 4 to 6 inches apart, also 1 to 1 1/2 inches deep. Remember that they need support! A sturdy garden trellis is best for this, since most pole beans get to be at least 8 feet tall, often much taller.  

There are many different kinds of beans of both types, and color is one of the major variations. Wax beans, or simply yellow beans, are green beans that have been bred to not have chlorophyll. The taste is the same, and they are grown the same, and come in both pole and bush varieties. Golden Wax beans and Rocquencourt are two of the bush-type yellow beans, and Golden Gate is a yellow pole bean. Many cooks prefer wax beans to green beans for their appearance. When they are cooked for a long time, they don’t lose their color. Another variation is in the length and shape of the bean. Fortex beans are a good example of extra long pole beans, often growing over 11 inches! Provider beans on the other hand are short but sweet bush beans. Here is a list of bean suppliers.

While green beans grow well in garden beds, they are also ideal candidates for container gardening. There are three main things that are critical to plan for when planting green beans in containers: The size of the pot, the quality of the soil, and the quantity of light. 

Bush bean pots should be 15 inches in diameter, at a minimum. Bush beans are a bit easier to grow in containers. That said, pole beans can be grown very well this way too! They just require a bit more planning, due to the height of the plant. These should have a pot 18 to 24 inches in diameter and need to be supported by a pot trellis or stakes of some kind. Fertile potting soil is needed for whichever type you choose to grow – with added compost if available. Both bean types need at least 8 hours of sunlight a day, so for indoor plants, placement is important. 

String beans of all kinds need warm soil and warm temperatures, and are not frost resistant. The temperature of the soil should be 60 degrees Fahrenheit (16C) or warmer. Air temperatures should be generally between 65 to 80 degrees (18-27C). These are warm-weather plants. String beans can survive colder temperatures, but cold soil can increase germination time and affect how many beans they produce. High temperatures, above 90 degrees (32C), can also reduce the number of blooms.

There are some varieties that are temperature resistant. Darker beans are more cold resistant than the yellow beans, as a rule. Some specific varieties that germinate well in cooler soil include Provider beans and Fin de Bagnol, a French bean. Jade beans are resistant to cold, but still need warm soil for germination. Some of the darker purple beans such as Purple Queen and Royal Burgundy also do well in cooler climates, and will germinate in cooler soil. On the other side of the heat equation, in most cases pole beans are more heat resistant than bush beans. There are also several bush bean varieties that are heat resistant, including the Prevail snap bean, Tenderette green beans, Stringless Green Pod beans, and Desperado string beans. 

Green beans are annual plants, and the first planting of bean seeds should be sown in the garden in late spring, after the last frost. Bush beans can be harvested at about 8 weeks after planting. The harvest period for bush beans is about three weeks. Pole beans need more growth but produce more beans and for longer. These can be harvested after 11 to 12 weeks and will produce green beans for 7 or 8 weeks. To enjoy a long harvest season, succession plant additional crops. There are different thoughts on whether it’s best to grow bush beans or pole beans, that choice is up to you as a gardener. Bush beans are easier to care for, but pole beans are easier to pick.

The other plants in your garden are also important! There are several species of plants that are great as companion plants for snap beans. A traditional grouping that is very old, and was originated by Indigenous peoples, is the traditional “Three Sisters.” Corn, beans, and squash grow very well together. The green beans (or other bean plants) attract insects that will keep corn pest insects at bay. For pole beans, the cornstalks act as a trellis, allowing the beans to climb right up the stalks. The squash is nourished by the bean plants, which produce extra nitrogen for the soil. The squash will shade the base of the corn stalks, which inhibits weeds. Other combinations of plants that grow well with string beans include yarrow, dill, potatoes, marigolds, cucumbers, and radishes.

Pests that pose particular problems for green beans include cucumber beetles, spider mites, aphids, leafhoppers, as well as slugs and snails. Companion plants, like yarrow and dill, as noted above, can help greatly with this by attracting ladybugs. Careful preparation of the soil and thorough weeding is essential. Mulching prevents cucumber beetles and other insects from depositing eggs. For an infestation, natural insecticides such as neem oil can work very well. Chemical insecticides such as Carbaryl will also work if stronger methods are required.

Diseases that can affect your green beans include the mosaic virus, white mold, fusarium rot, and a variety of funguses. Bacterial infection and blight can be a problem, but this can largely be prevented by not over-watering, and ensuring that the plants are spaced well enough to allow air circulation. Water snap beans thoroughly in the morning and allow them to dry during the day. This keeps them growing in a healthy way. 

Harvesting string beans for seeds is a bit different than harvesting them for eating. If you are growing some beans for seed, keep an eye out during the early part of the harvest for the plants that produce best. From those, keep most of the pods unharvested until they ripen towards the end of the harvest period. Once they turn brown, or yellowish-brown, they should be fully developed. The seed will rattle a bit inside when you move them, and the pods should be hard. Pick them, let them dry completely, then carefully remove the seeds, keeping only the best ones. Then, store them until it’s time to plant next spring!

Green beans are a great annual plant, perfect for garden beds or containers! Keep this information in mind when planting, and you will have a great harvest of tasty green beans every year!