{"id":2487,"date":"2019-06-12T07:37:12","date_gmt":"2019-06-12T07:37:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gardener.guide\/?p=2487"},"modified":"2020-01-22T09:42:07","modified_gmt":"2020-01-22T09:42:07","slug":"14-key-factors-when-growing-bush-beans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gardener.guide\/14-key-factors-when-growing-bush-beans\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Key Factors When Growing Bush Beans"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Do you love beans? Have you ever thought of growing your own bush beans? Beans are a great plant to grow because they don\u2019t require a lot of care. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The plants produce a lot of beans and last a long time. You can grow beans almost anywhere, and there are plenty of ways you can use them. You can turn them into complete meals and use them in many of your favorite recipes. Use them in dips, soups, casseroles, and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beans can be dried and have a long shelf life. They can also be canned. When you think of all the ways, you can use beans, growing them yourself becomes more appealing. Anyone can grow beans, whether you are a beginner or an expert. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are a few key factors that you should keep in mind when growing bush beans. You can grow healthy bean plants that produce beans all season long. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Wait For Warm Weather<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Beans grow best in warm soil so you should wait until the water is warm to plant them. Putting them in warmer soil will allow them to grow quickly and will give you a lot of beans in a short amount of time. You can plant the beans in cooler soil, but they will germinate more slowly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beans that are grown in cooler soil are also more likely to suffer from root rot and are also more susceptible to diseases. Another reason to wait to plant the beans in warm weather is because it will also prevent any late spring frosts from killing the plants after they have been planted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you live in an area with a short growing season, you may need to warm the soil artificially so you can give the beans a head start and time to grow before the season is over. This way you can harvest them in time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Soak The Seeds Before Planting<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You might be familiar with soaking beans before you cook them, and if you want the plants to be successful and grow faster, you should soak the seeds before you plant them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Put the seeds in water and let them soak for 30 minutes before you plant them. You can also place them between two wet paper towels and allow them to sit overnight. This softens the outer shell of the seed so the plants can break through more easily. It also makes it easier for the nutrients to soak into the plant, so it gets a good start from the beginning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The plants should be swollen and full of water and ready to plant. You need to plant them immediately, or they will rot fast. If you are not able to plant the beans within 24 hours, do not soak them. Once planted, you will notice the beans germinate quickly and should see little sprouts in just a couple of days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Water Properly<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Beans need a lot of water, but you also have to be careful not to give them more than they need. It can be hard to determine how much is too much, so you need to know what to watch for before you start growing them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the beans are sprouting, flowering, and producing pods, they will need to be watered regularly. You also have to make sure the water is not collecting at the root of the plants. You should add compost and mulch around your plant to allow the water to drain so the beans do not become susceptible to root rot. You want to make sure the soil is not staying damp at all times. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The only time this is okay is if you have just sown the seeds. You will need to check the soil and the plants often to make sure they are healthy and getting the right amount of water. Their condition will tell you if you need to water them more or less often.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Plant Them Close Together<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When you plant some plants, you have to be careful to space them out well, so they have plenty of room together. If they don\u2019t have enough room, they may not grow properly. That\u2019s not the case with means, and it\u2019s one of the reasons many people enjoy growing them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beans do well if they are grown close together so you can actually plant a lot of beans in a small space. When the beans grow close together, they create a canopy that shades the soil and allows the beans to grow properly without overheating. It can also help protect them from too much rain and wind.  It best to plant the beans together in sections spread out across the garden. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t be tempted to thin out the plants as they grow either. You want them to stay fuller and grow as big as possible. The more shade, the better when it comes to beans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Rotate<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you want to grow beans successfully every year, you need to rotate them each season. Beans absorb a lot of nutrients from the soil, so when they are done growing, they may have absorbed all of the nutrients from the soil. That soil needs time to recover before more beans can be planted in it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moving the beans to a new area will give them new soil with new nutrients. After a few growing seasons, you may be able to grow beans in an area where they have previously been grown. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are not able to move the beans, you should treat the soil with compost and fertilizer over the winter to help restore the nutrients, so it\u2019s ready for the beans when the time comes to plant them again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The beans still may not be as healthy or grow as well as if they had been planted in a new location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Remove Weeds<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Beans do not grow well if there are a lot of weeds around them. You will need to make sure there are no weeds. The weeds take nutrients and water out of the soil and compete with the beans. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The beans require so much of both that they can\u2019t compete with the weeds and will end up not growing properly. You may need to spend a lot of time weeding the area around the beans. Once the beans have grown enough to shade the area around and under them, the weeds won\u2019t be able to grow as easily, and you won\u2019t have to work as hard to remove them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t use weed killer on them as this could kill your beans as well and it\u2019s bad for the environment. Remove the weeds before you plant the beans should buy you some time, so you don\u2019t have to weed them out too much as the beans grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Mulch Around The Plants<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Beans like a lot of mulch. It helps keep them hydrated but also help the water drain, so it doesn\u2019t soak into the roots and cause root rot. If you live in an area where the summers are very hot and dry, you should add plenty of mulch to the base of the beans, so they do not dry out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s best to use organic mulch when possible. You can also add compost and things like cut grass and newspaper to the base of the plants. As it all breaks down, it will add nutrients to the soil so the plants can absorb it and grow better. This will also protect the beans if you do happen to plant them too soon and it frosts unexpectedly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check on the beans often to see if you need to add more mulch. You can also add more compost on top of the mulch if you feel like the beans could benefit from it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Harvest Often<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you want a lot of beans during the growing season, you need to pick a lot of beans. The more you pick, the more beans will grow. If you stop picking them or slow down, the growth of the beans will slow down too. You need to pick the beans before they become swollen and full of seeds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once the seeds are starting to form in the pods, the plant will assume that it has done all it needs to do and will stop producing more beans. If you don\u2019t pick the beans in time, they will simply stop growing. Most people find that young beans taste better and have a better texture than beans that have been hanging on the plan for a long time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check your bean plants every day to see if there are new beans that can be picked.  Remove any beans that are swollen or look to be damaged as well to continue to promote growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Bush Bean Pests<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Like any other crop, bush beans have a selection of pests that love to chew on the leaves, stems, and roots of the plant. The biggest pest problem for any bean grower is the Mexican bean beetle. These beetles can decimate your crop in a matter of weeks, causing the defoliation and death of the bean bush plant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adult Mexican bean beetles are around a quarter of an inch in length, with an oval shape and a yellowish-brown color with back spots. Many novice gardeners confuse these beetles with ladybugs \u2013 which are beneficial for your bushes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The beetles lay eggs that hatch into dark-yellow, fat grubs that start on the underside of the leaves, causing defoliation. Larvae can also infect the base of the plant, resulting in a boring of the stems that lead to wilting of the plant’s leaves. Failing to remove the beetles and the larvae will result in the death of your bean bush.
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10. Bush Bean Diseases<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While pests are a concern for any bean grower, you also need to be on the lookout for any disease that can threaten the health of the bean bush. When the weather gets hot and humid, your plants may start to show signs of mildew or mold on the tops of the leaves. Powdery mildew occurs due to overwatering, or excessively humid climates, especially in a greenhouse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, you may notice that your plants start to develop a white to off-grey powdery substance on the tops of the leaves. Gardeners will need to use a sulfur fumigating cannon to spray down the plants and kill the mold. Using a sulfur burner inside your greenhouse will help to get rid of mold and mildew while protecting your plants from future bacterial of fungal infections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other diseases affecting bean bushes are anthracnose and mosaic virus, bean rust, and blight. Make sure you remove any dead foliage from the garden that may attract the growth and spread of disease in your plants.
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11. Growing in Containers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you want to get a head start on the season, then you can plant your bean bush in a container, and grow it indoors until the start of the spring. When selecting your pot, choose a product with adequate drainage holes to prevent your bush from getting “wet feet,” which results in the onset of root rot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your pot needs to be at least 7-inches in depth to accommodate the growth of the roots. We recommend that you look into using material pots for your bushes. These pots have breathable sidewalls that allow for maximum airflow to the roots, accelerating growth. Material pots also drain very well, and you can check for overwatering by looking to see how much water collects at the sides. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The amount of bean seeds you can plant in one material pot depends on the size of the growing surface. Those growers using material pots with a 12-inch diameter can fit around nine plants into the container.
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12. Maintaining Potted Bean Plants<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you do decide to go with potting your bean bushes, then it’s best to spread some mulch over the surface of the soil once the seeds germinate. Using mulch helps to lock the moisture into the substrate, reducing evaporation while improving the health of the beneficial bacteria in the growing medium. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soil bacteria are a vital part of growing healthy plants. If your soil does not contain the correct amount of microorganisms, then the chances are that you will be looking at stunted development in your bean bushes. Try not to over-water the plants, as soggy roots may cause the growth of a fungal disease. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can stick stakes into the pot to give the vine something to grow against, or wrap a tomato trellis around the inside before you fill it with soil. Growing in containers with healthy soil and the correct watering and fertilizing techniques will have you harvesting your pods in around 6-days after planting.
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13. Using a Trellis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you are growing your beans in a flowerbed, then consider using a trellis to support the plant and keep the pods off of the floor. If you allow the foliage and pods to touch the ground, then the chances are that these parts of the plant will start to rot, inviting disease to infect your bean bush.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are various types of trellis suitable for growing beans. However, we recommend you look into an A-frame trellis, as it offers the best support and most robust structure to support the weight of your bean bush, especially after a rain. Trellis is available using rope, plastic, or metal framework. We recommend you go with a plastic grille, as metal may rust, and the fabric trellis may tear or fail to support the bush efficiently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Start building your trellis before the plants get too big, and check on the plant every day. You’ll need to weave the branches in-between the gaps in the lattice manually.
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14. Saving Seeds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We recommend that you plant at least two bush bean plants every season. This strategy allows you to use one of the plants to propagate seeds for the following season’s crops. Leave the seeding bush alone, and only water it when the plant is parched. Only harvest the pods once they turn brown at the end of the season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the pods finish, pick them, split them, and store the seeds in a jar in the fridge or freezer until the following season. It’s also possible to save the roots of your current bush bean plant for the coming season. Dig up the roots, and transfer them to another area of the garden. Bury the roots under mulch and soil, and then dig them up the following season for another round of fruiting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using this strategy helps you to get started much faster in the next season, and you should be producing pods within a month after planting the saved roots.
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