Green Beans

Green beans are a favorite among home vegetable gardeners. The most commonly grown varieties include the green or snap bean, as well as the yellow or wax bean, a variant of the green bean. Since Burpee introduced the Stringless Green Pod in 1894, most beans are now stringless. Beans can grow as either bushes or vines. Bush varieties are easier to manage, reaching heights of 1 to 2 feet, and mature earlier. Pole beans, which grow 6 to 8 feet tall, need a trellis for support and grow more slowly but yield a greater number of beans per plant. Green beans, in all their forms, appear in many vegetable recipes. This article will focus on tips for growing green beans.

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About Green Beans

The leaves typically consist of three leaflets, and the flowers can be pale yellow, lavender, or white. The pods and seeds come in varying sizes and colors.

Common Name: Green (Snap) Bean, Yellow (Wax) Bean

Scientific Name: Phaseolus vulgaris

Hardiness: Tender (dies after the first frost)

In the next section, we will guide you on how to grow green beans and explore the different types of green beans.

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How to Grow Green Beans

Green beans make an excellent choice for home gardeners. They thrive in favorable conditions and yield a harvest of tasty, nutritious vegetables.

Snap beans thrive in a short growing season, requiring around 60 days of moderate temperatures from seed to harvest. They can be grown across the United States and are a great choice for novice gardeners. Snap beans need warm soil for germination and should be planted after the average last frost date.

To extend the harvest, you can plant bush beans every two weeks, or start with bush beans and follow up with pole beans. Plant seeds an inch deep, directly in the garden. For bush beans, space the seeds 2 inches apart in single or wide rows. For pole beans, plant seeds 4 to 6 inches apart in rows that are 30 to 36 inches apart. Alternatively, plant them in inverted hills, with five or six seeds per hill, spaced 30 inches apart.

For pole bean varieties, set up the trellis when planting to avoid disturbing the roots later. Keep the soil consistently moist until the beans emerge. Once seedlings are established, thin them to 4 to 6 inches apart. To prevent disturbing neighboring plants, trim the excess seedlings with scissors rather than pulling them out.

Harvesting Green Beans

The edible part of the green bean plant is the immature pod. Harvest when the pods have grown large enough to eat, gently pulling them off the plant without breaking the stem. Beans will flower twice and produce a second crop. Smaller pods tend to be more tender.

Green Beans

Green beans are classified into two main types: bush varieties and pole varieties. The specific varieties within each type are listed below.

Bush varieties:

Pole varieties:

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