How to Grow Beans bush

General

Bush beans provide delightful treats. The green, snap and yellow wax bush beans that we enjoy are bred to be stringless and nutritious when picked at the immature stage-we eat the delicious bush bean pods while the seeds are small and tender. Bush beans supply beta-carotene, fiber and some minerals including iron and potassium.

Latin

Phaseolus Vulgaris.
Fabaceae Family.

Season & Zone

Season: Warm season.
Exposure: Full-sun.
Zone: Unknown hardiness zone.

Planting Seeds

Using inoculant on seeds helps growth. If the weather is too wet, beans can also be started in pots indoors and set out carefully a few weeks later. For a continuous harvest, plant at 3 week intervals. Seeds will sprout in 8-16 days depending on soil temperature. In optimum conditions at least 85% of seeds will germinate. Usual seed life: 3 years. 56g = 2 ounces. Optimum soil temperature for germination: 21-32ºC (70-90ºF). Plant mid-May to the beginning of July. Try to plant during a warm dry spell. Soil must be warm: if it is not warm enough, seeds will rot, especially since our seeds are not treated with fungicide. Sow seeds in rows 45cm (18") apart, 5-8cm (2-3") apart, if using intensive spacing method, thin to at least 15-20cm (6-8") apart. For farms with a 100': row: 0.25-0.5kg (1/2-1lb). For an acre: 30-40kg with row spacing: 50-90cm (20-36").

Preparing Soil

Well-drained, warm soil is best. Raised beds help with both drainage and warmth. Use 1 cup of complete organic fertilizer for 3m (10') of row. Too much nitrogen fertilizer is often the cause of poor pod set and delayed maturity.

They prefer full sun exposure, but can tolerate partial shade with a reduced yield. Bush beans are not heavy feeders, so not much water or fertilizer is needed. Avoid getting the plant wet when watering, as this will reduce the chance of your plant becoming diseased.

Diseases & Pests

Disease: If beans flower but do not set pods, the cause can be a zinc deficiency. Try spraying the plants with Kelpman. Wet leaves on crowded plants are subject to diseases. Thin plants to increase air circulation and try not to touch the plants when they are wet.

Pests:

Aphids - A hard stream of water can be used to remove aphids from plants. Wash off with water early in the day. Check for natural enemies such as gray-brown or bloated parasitized aphids and the presence of larvae of lady beetles and lacewings.
Mexican bean beetles - Handpick and destroy beetles and eggs in small plantings. Plant early to avoid this pest. Turn under any infested plants after harvest.
Spider mites (two-spotted) - Wash off with water early in the day. A hard stream of water can be used to remove mites.
Leafhoppers - Small, light green to gray insects that feed on the plant juices, causing stunted growth, and transferring viruses. No cultural control available.

Harvest

Pick beans regularly to keep the plant producing (if pods get fat with seed, the plant will stop flowering). The smaller the bean, the more tender they are.

Companion Plants

Beets, Cabbage family, Carrots, Celeriac, Celery, Corn, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Lettuce, Marigold, Pea, Potato, Radish, Rosemary, Strawberry, Savory, Tansy, Marigold.