Green Bean Envy
Green beans are the unripe, young fruit of various cultivars of the common bean. Immature or young pods of the runner bean, yard long bean, and hyacinth bean are used in a similar way. Green beans are known by many common names, including French beans, string beans, snap beans, snaps, and the French name haricot vert.
Allowing fresh beans to mature on the vine is the first step in gathering seeds for replanting. This means letting the bean pod fill out completely before picking it. As the tiny beans inside the pod continue to grow, they will reach their mature size in one to two weeks.
There are so many delicious types of beans that can be grown in gardens and containers. They can be grouped by their edible parts (pods versus seeds), how they’re eaten (fresh pods versus fresh seeds versus dried seeds), or by their growth habit (bush versus pole). And it’s this last group that makes the most sense for green beans.
- Bush beans – Bush beans are fast and easy to grow with most varieties growing between 12 to 24 inches tall. Once the seeds are sown in late spring, the harvest usually begins in seven to eight weeks and lasts for around three weeks.
- Pole beans – Pole beans can be runner beans or vining snap beans with plants that grow eight to ten feet tall. They need to be grown up a trellis, teepee, tower, netting, or other support and begin to crop eleven to twelve weeks from seeding. The harvest season runs for a longer time than bush beans, lasting around six to eight weeks.
Green bean planting tips:
Green beans are a warm weather vegetable and are planted after the last expected spring frost. Don’t be in a rush to sow bean seeds as planting when the soil is still cold and wet can lead to rot. Aim to seed when the soil temperature reaches 70 F (21 C). Most types of beans are direct seeded in garden beds and containers as they are so quick to germinate and grow and don’t respond well to transplanting.
Bush beans – Sow the seeds of bush beans 1 inch deep and 2 inches apart in rows 18 to 24 inches apart. Once the plants are growing well, thin them to 6 inches. For the longest harvest, succession plant bush beans every two to three weeks, or until about two months before the first expected fall frost.
Growing green beans – types to grow:
There are so many delicious types of beans that can be grown in gardens and containers. They can be grouped by their edible parts (pods versus seeds), how they’re eaten (fresh pods versus fresh seeds versus dried seeds), or by their growth habit (bush versus pole). And it’s this last group that makes the most sense for green beans.
- Bush beans – Bush beans are fast and easy to grow with most varieties growing between 12 to 24 inches tall. Once the seeds are sown in late spring, the harvest usually begins in seven to eight weeks and lasts for around three weeks.
- Pole beans – Pole beans can be runner beans or vining snap beans with plants that grow eight to ten feet tall. They need to be grown up a trellis, teepee, tower, netting, or other support and begin to crop eleven to twelve weeks from seeding. The harvest season runs for a longer time than bush beans, lasting around six to eight weeks.
Green bean planting tips:
Green beans are a warm weather vegetable and are planted after the last expected spring frost. Don’t be in a rush to sow bean seeds as planting when the soil is still cold and wet can lead to rot. Aim to seed when the soil temperature reaches 70 F (21 C). Most types of beans are direct seeded in garden beds and containers as they are so quick to germinate and grow and don’t respond well to transplanting.
Bush beans – Sow the seeds of bush beans 1 inch deep and 2 inches apart in rows 18 to 24 inches apart. Once the plants are growing well, thin them to 6 inches. For the longest harvest, succession plant bush beans every two to three weeks, or until about two months before the first expected fall frost.
Pole beans – Pole beans need a sturdy structure to support their heavy vines and trellises or teepees should be erected before you plant the seeds. Sow seeds 1 inch deep and 3 inches apart for trellised pole beans, eventually thinning to 6 inches. For a teepee, use poles at least 7 feet tall and plant six to eight seeds around the base of each pole. My favorite way to grow pole beans is over a pole bean tunnel. It adds vertical interest to the garden and is a fun spot to hang out in summer – a living fort!
When growing green beans pick a site with at least eight hours of daily sun and moderately fertile, well-drained soil. Raised beds are ideal, but green beans can also be grown in pots and planters. For bush beans, choose a large window box or a pot that’s at least 15 inches in diameter. For pole beans, the container should be at least 18 inches in diameter. Fill pots with a mixture of high quality potting mix and compost.
The best green beans to grow:
There are a lot of outstanding heirloom and hybrid green beans to grow. Here are a few of my favorites:
Bush beans
- Mascotte – I am a huge fan of this award-winning, fast-growing gourmet green bean. The compact plants yield a heavy crop of super slender green pods that are produced on top of the foliage – easy picking! The 16 inch tall plants can be grown in beds, but they also do well when planted in pots and window boxes.
- Provider – Provider is a popular green bean that is tolerant of planting in cool soil, allowing northern gardeners to get a jump on the spring planting season. The smooth pods are about 5 inches long and the plants are resistant to several diseases including powdery mildew.
- Contender – Contender is a high-yielding variety that is also one of the earliest to produce. Each plant produces dozens of round, slightly curved pods.
Pole beans:
- Emerite – I’ve been growing this green pole bean for over a decade and its tender, flavorful pods have made this a family favorite. It’s an early variety, but it’s the pod quality that makes this a must-grow. The interior beans grow very slowly which means the pods are snappy and delicious no matter the harvest stage – at just 4 inches long or when they’re a mature 8 inches in length.
- Fortex – Outstanding! This French-type pole bean is incredibly productive, yielding stringless, slender green pods that can grow up to 10 inches long! I generally start picking when the beans are 5 to 6 inches long, but they maintain their eating quality even when they’re 10 inches in length. Expect excellent flavor when eaten raw or cooked.