Why Peas and Beans Are Ideal Container Crops
Have you thought about growing snap peas or green beans in containers? It’s easy! These healthy and delicious dinner veggies can grow right on your deck or patio just outside your kitchen. Both green beans and snap peas are excellent candidates for container gardening because they mature quickly and have relatively shallow root systems.
Snap peas produce best in late winter or spring, when afternoons are cooler than in summer, but nighttime temperatures are relatively mild. Seeds or seedlings can also be planted in late August for harvest during cooler fall weather. During the heat of the summer, the best container results come from pole or bush beans planted in spring, according to UC ANR (UC Agriculture and Natural Resources) guidelines.
Selecting Containers and Providing Support
Many snap pea varieties and all pole beans are climbers, so you should provide them with a pole, a small trellis, or a teepee for best results. Using an existing wall as a trellis makes great sense, but choose an east-facing wall to limit intense sun exposure. Plant seedlings in 5-gallon or larger containers that are at least 12-16 inches deep with good drainage and filled with quality potting mix. No supplemental fertilizing should be needed. Bush beans grow compactly, so they require no climbing support.
Remember that container soil dries out more quickly than in-ground bedded plants, so you’ll need to irrigate more frequently. Position your beans in a full sun location (6 or more hours of direct sun). Sugar snap peas are better grown in part shade (2-6 hours of sun). Begin harvesting sugar snap pea pods in 60–70 days when pods are plump. Harvest green beans in 50–60 days when pods are firm, crisp, and 3–4 inches long but before seeds bulge. Regular harvesting of bush beans encourages more production.
You may want to place your containers on plant dollies for easy movement in case the weather turns too hot, cold, or rainy. It’s best to place a 1–2 inch layer of mulch on the soil surface to preserve soil moisture. Be sure to locate your containers away from onions, garlic, or chives. They produce chemicals that can stunt pea and bean growth. Watch for slugs, snails, and birds, which may need to be managed with snail/slug bait or bird netting.
Recommended varieties for container growing:
Snap Peas:
- Little Crunch – Specially designed for pots, they grow quickly and are sweet.
- Sugar Snap – The classic, high-yield choice that thrives with trellising.
- Snak Hero – Prolific, sweet pods, and great for vertical container gardening–needs poles or a small trellis
Green Beans:
- Provider Bush – Fast-growing and reliable
- Jade Bush – Long, attractive pods are tender and delicious
- Blue Lake Pole – A classic for reliability and good for canning
With a dose of care and good weather, you’ll be harvesting a continuous batch of healthy and delicious fresh peas and beans for your dinner table.
For more information, check out these UC ANR articles: Beans, and Growing Vegetables in Containers.