UC Links
How to grow
Cultural tips for growing beans, UC IPM
Pest management
Pests and disorders of beans, UC IPM
The Basics
Beans are a warm weather crop that comes in bush and pole varieties. Bush varieties generally produce sooner but may stop after a few flushes, while pole varieties will continue producing into the fall. Pole beans require tall supports (6 to 10-feet) that they can twine around.
When to plant
- Direct seed: May–June; possibly July. For best results, wait until daytime temperatures are consistently above 70°F and the soil temperature is above 60°F. Direct-seeded beans will rot if the soil is too cold.
- Transplant: April–June
- If growing your own seedlings, start the seeds 3 weeks before you want to plant
Harvest window
50–100 days depending on variety.
Care overview
- Nitrogen fertilizer is not needed because beans are legumes that can fix nitrogen from the air.
- For a continuous harvest of bush beans, plant successive crops 2 to 3 weeks apart.
- Pole beans bear fruit over a longer period than bush beans, but they require trellising.
Additional link
Recommended Varieties for Santa Clara County*
| Blue Lake Stringless | Pole, green pod |
| Spanish Musica | Pole, broad green pod |
| Kwintus | Pole, green pod |
| Chinese Green Noodle | Pole, 20-inch long pods, bright green |
| Taiwan Black Seeded | Pole, 38-inch long pods, black seeds |
| Blue Lake 274 | Bush, green pod |
| Greencrop | Bush, green pod |
Other recommended varieties:
- Bush beans: Beurre De Roquencourt, Greencrop, Landreth Bush, Nickel, Purple Podded, Roc d’Or, Royal Burgundy, Slankette, Strike
- Pole beans: Blue Lake, Dutch White Runner, Emerite, Fortex, Kentucky Blue, Marvel of Venice
* Many other varieties may also do well here in Santa Clara County. This list is based on UC Master Gardener trials, taste tests, and feedback from local growers.