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 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 (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

Your comments and tips

20 Mar 10, monique (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
my beans are really hard what is wrong with them and they are a bit brown
16 Feb 10, Liz (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Rikkyurk, Water the ground well before sowing the beans, then you can leave them for a few days to germinate. But if the weather is very hot and dry, it might help to water after a day. Have you tried a different variety? Some seem easier than others.
13 Feb 10, Rikkyurk (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have tried growing from seed twice and only one from 40 seemed to germinate. I am sowing in rows 1.5 - 2cm deep. As directed on the packet I didn't water for 3 days after sowing. They were a fresh packet of seed too. Any tips?
01 Oct 10, Monty (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
A tip I saw on a TV show for getting beans and peas to germitate suggested soaking the seeds overnight in water with a pinch of epsom salts. The magnesium is supposed to activate an enzyme in the seed which triggers sprouting. I have done this once with dwarf beans and once with braod beans and have got 100% (8 out of 8) germination both times.
11 Feb 10, Hellbelle (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My bean plants were growing really well, but now the leaves seem to be dying off just as they're starting to flower. The ends are going brown - they look like they're burnt but i'm sooo careful when i water to make sure the leaves stay dry....any tips???
26 Jan 10, Chris (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Jim, snails will eat all the leaves off a bean plant overnight. Various bugs and grubs will eat into the beans themselves. Have you checked the plants at night with a torch to catch what is eating them?
19 Jan 10, Tam (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
JIM- slaters and earwigs.........is the leaf left like lacework ?
18 Jan 10, jim (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
my beans are getting eaten by something i have no idea what can someone please tell wahat it is eating them?
27 Oct 09, Liz (sent in by David) (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Dani, check www.hbci.com/~wenonah/min-def/beans.htm for mineral deficiencies. Are you using compost or chicken manure which hasn't completely matured? That can cause nitrogen deficiency and yellow leaves.
24 Oct 09, dani (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
why are my bean plants going yellow?
Showing 141 - 150 of 156 comments

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