How to Grow Green Beans

Thinking about growing your own veggies? Green beans are a great choice, especially if you're new to gardening.

They're fast, versatile and simple to grow!

Learn the basics of growing green beans, from picking the right type, taking care of your plants as they grow, and harvesting your bounty.

Green beans are a great addition to any backyard or balcony garden.

This easy-to-grow vegetable works well in a variety of dishes, like this Nicoise salad, and is easy to look after.

Some beans even have beautifully coloured flowers that add interest to your outdoor space.

Jump to Section:

• Growing Requirements
• Choosing the Right Variety
• How to Grow Green Beans from Seeds
• How to Plant Bean Seedlings
• Which Fertilizer to Use
• Watering Tips
• How to Harvest Green Beans
• How to Prepare and Store
• Frequently Asked Questions

This post contains affiliate links from West Coast Seeds. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I'll receive a small comission at no extra cost to you.

There are many different kinds of green beans out there, and the best one for you is going to depend on how much space you have.

But overall, here's what green beans need to be able to grow well.

Choosing the Right Variety

Despite the name, not all types of green beans are actually green!

For example, wax beans are a variety of green beans that are pale yellow in colour, due to their lack of chlorophyll.

These taste almost exactly the same as the common green beans that you’ll find at your grocery store.

Purple beans are another variation. Instead of getting their colour from chlorophyll, they get their colour from anthocyanins (an antioxidant that makes things purple).

These beans are sweeter than green or yellow beans but will, unfortunately, lose their pretty colour when they are cooked.

If you want to grow the same varieties that I grow, you can buy Ferrari bean seeds, Tricolour bean seeds, Maxibel Filet bean seeds and Celebration pole bean seeds from West Coast Seeds. (affiliate links)

Bush Beans vs. Pole Beans

All green beans can be sorted into one of two categories: bush beans and pole beans. This refers to the growth habit of the particular variety.

Bush beans are short plants that grow into a wide "bush" shape, while pole beans grow vertically and need to be supported on a trellis, teepee or pole.

Bush beans only grow to about 30-45 cm (12 - 18 inches) in height, so they work well in containers. They grow quickly and don't require a trellis.

If you're planting multiple bush beans in a raised bed you will need to space them out further than pole beans which grow taller than wide. 

Pole beans can grow to about 1.2-2.1 meters (4-7 feet), and are a great way to make use of vertical space.

While bush beans grow to a determined height and then stop, pole beans will keep growing upward until they are killed off by cold weather.

Also, a single planting of pole beans will give you beans all summer, whereas you might want to do multiple plantings of bush beans (2 weeks apart) for a constant harvest.

How to Grow Green Beans from Seeds

Green bean seeds can be planted outside once the soil is warm enough, ideally between 21-32°C (70-90°F).

This is usually from mid to late spring but may vary depending on where you live.

It’s important that the soil isn’t cold and wet, or your seeds may rot.

Also, beans are not frost tolerant, so be sure that all risk of frost has passed before planting.

Lastly, green beans do not like to be transplanted.

However, if you are growing your beans in containers you can start them indoors and then move the pots outside once the weather is warm enough.

Tip: Green beans like full sun, so pick a sunny place for your containers.

How to Direct Sow Green Bean Seeds

1. Fill your container with a good quality potting mix (I like ProMix Organic)
2. Add a handful of worm castings, if desired.
3. Add an all-purpose fertilizer to the soil according to package instructions. Mix well.
4. Make a 2.5 cm (1 inch) deep hole in your potting soil. Space your holes 3-6 inches apart (or make 9 evenly spaced holes per square foot if using square-foot gardening).
5. Place 1-2 seeds in each hole.
6. Cover seeds lightly with soil.
7. Moisten with the mist setting on your hose.
8. Keep moist to ensure good germination.
9. If you have more than one plant that has germinated per hole, remove the weakest plant.

How to Plant Bean Seedlings

1. Dig a hole in the soil large enough for the width of your seedling. Or fill your desired container with potting soil. Aim for 1 plant per small container or 9 plants per square foot in a raised bed.
2. Add a handful of worm castings to your container or the section of the raised bed that you will be planting in.
3. Add an all-purpose fertilizer to the soil according to package instructions. Mix well.
4. Remove your seedlings from their containers, and place them into the hole. Fill the soil back into the hole, and press it down around the plant with your hands.
5. Water the plant well to help the roots establish.

Tip: Add mulch around the base of established plants to help retain moisture in the soil.

Plant Supports

Pole beans (a.k.a. climbing beans or runner beans) need supports to climb. You'll want to set these up while the plants are quite small.

I can tell you from experience that trying to add supports later on is frustrating, and you risk damaging your plants as well.

I use bamboo stakes from the dollar store most of the time, but you can use tall sticks or ready-made structures.

A teepee shape works well, but even a simple straight stick works better than nothing.

You'll need to train your beans to use their supports at first. This could mean tying the beans to the base of the support or weaving them around the support.

Even as the beans grow, you may need to guide them around their supports from time to time.

Which Fertilizer to Use

I grow all of my edible plants in ProMix Organic potting mix, which already has some plant food built into it.

Additionally, I like to add a little Gaia Green all-purpose fertilizer to the soil, as well as a handful of Gaia Green worm castings (a.k.a. worm poop).

Watering Tips

Green beans need to be watered regularly, especially once they have started to produce pods.

Don't let your plants dry out, as this can cause the flowers to die and developing bean pods will become withered.

How to Harvest Green Beans

Green beans are ready to be harvested when they are about 10-15 cm (4-6 inches) in length (although this can change depending on the variety), are firm, and are about as wide as a pencil.

Try to avoid letting your beans get too large.

When they develop large bulges, this means that the seed inside has developed and the outer shell will likely be very tough.

Properly grown green beans should be tender and sweet.

To remove the green beans from the stem, cut or snap them off. Be careful not to pull the beans off, as you may damage the plant.

It's important to pick your beans regularly, as this will encourage new growth.

Tip: Remember that the smaller the bean is, the more tender it will be!

How to Prepare and Store

Freshly picked green beans have the best flavour, so plan to use them soon after harvesting.

If you can't use your beans on harvest day, it's best to wash and dry them, then store them in the fridge for a few days.

If you're harvesting more beans than you can eat, you can freeze them for later. Wash and trim the beans, then blanch them in boiling water (followed by an ice bath), dry and freeze in an air-tight container for up to 6 months.

Green beans are great in salads, casseroles, soups and stir-fries. They can also be marinated or pickled. Try roasted green beans for a quick weeknight side dish!

Frequently Asked Questions