Growing Organic Pole Beans - Simply

GROWING POLE GREEN BEANS or BUSH GREEN BEANS?

A lot of organic and natural gardeners believe that pole bean plants produce a sweeter and more tender beans and that the harvest period my be several weeks longer than bush beans.

Growing pole beans does take a bit more work than bush beans as they should be trellised, but it's worth it.

WHERE YOU SHOULD PLANT

Growing Pole Beans work the best in a full sun and in well-drained soil rich in organic humus (aged and rotted manure and compost).

WHEN YOU SHOULD PLANT

Pole Beans can be planted directly into the soil when soil temperatures reach 60F in the spring.

HOW THE SOIL SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR BEST RESULTS

Mix compost thoroughly into the soil for well-drained & nutrient rich soil. Beans don’t thrive in heavy soil. Adding well-composted manure or other organic compost will help produce a superior bean crop as well.

NITROGEN, PHOSPHORUS, AND POTASSIUM (N-P-K) IN YOUR SOIL

Beans do well even if nitrogen (N) levels are low, while the phosporus (P) and potassium (K) levels can be moderate and pH levels can be as low as 5.0. Ideal growth will occur at pH of approximately 6.0.


STARTING YOUR SEEDS

Pre-soaking seeds in a compost tea for 25 minutes may help the seed to be more disease resistant.

If you do pre-soak your seeds for to sprout them, be careful when you plant them as the bean sprout is delicate.

Growing beans take approximately 7-10 days to sprout.

If you use row covers it will keep the soil temperature up at night helping your seeds sprout sooner.

COOLER CLIMATES -START YOUR BEDDING PLANTS INDOORS

Beans are not as easy as some plants to transplant, but if your area has a short growing season you may want to plant them indoors in peat pots or bedding plant trays 2-4 weeks before your last frost date.

Pole beans begin bearing beans in about 10 weeks, depending on the weather.


PLANTING SEEDS OUTDOORS (Not Indoors First)

Plant your first crop 1 to 2 weeks after last frost; the daytime temperature should be around 70F. Pole beans are affected by the cold.

Space your rows about 3’ to 4’ apart. If you’re trellising, plant double rows at 1’ apart. Plant seeds in approximately 2” of soil and space your seeds about 8-10” apart.

If you’re using a “teepee” structure, plant hills 3’-5’ apart, and sow 6-8 seeds per hill, later thinning plants to 3-4 per hill. Place your supports soon after young plants appear.

To grow more beans (up to 3X that of bush beans), train your pole beans up the trellises, and use a foliar spray every 14 days.

WATERING

Soggy, cold soil will cause your seeds to rot before they have a chance to germinate, so don't over-water.

Growing pole beans need more water throughout the growing season.

Keep water levels low after planting, moderate at flowering, and heavier during the harvest season.


COMPANION PLANTING / ROTATION

Some crops like corn benefit from the nitrogen fixing qualities of beans.

If beans are planted after corn in the same area, they provide an excellent nitrogen amendment after corn’s heavy summer usage of nitrogen.

Cabbage, onion family, kohlrabi and sunflower are bad companions for beans.

Rotation of crops: Follow corn; don’t follow peas, lentils, or bush beans.

WHEN TO HARVEST

You should harvest beans when they're young and tender; no larger than a pencil, and preferably somewhat smaller. Seeds should not yet be visibly forming inside the pod.

Harvesting daily encourages the plants to grow even more beans; the more you pick, the more you get. And your growing season will be longer too!


STORAGE

Beans will stay fresh for about a week in the fridge.

Once your harvesting surpasses how many beans you're able to eat, preserve your beans by pickling, freezing, or canning.

COMMON PESTS AND PROBLEMS

Difficulties with growing Pole Beans are few, and most can be avoided when your soil's pH balance is correct and the soil is aerated with composted materials.

For specific information for your area, contact your county extension

SAVING SEEDS

Beans are self-pollinating. Beans and other legumes can be planted side by side and won’t cross-pollinate according to some gardeners, while others claim up to 25% cross-pollination.

The percentage of cross-pollination depends on a number of factors: the size of flower on the bean plant, pollen-carrying insects, and the quantity of nectar sources in the area.

However, to be safe, don’t plant beans or other legumes (lentils, peas) close to each other, especially in areas where pollen sources are scarce.

When the pods are dry, break the pods open and the beans will fall out into your hand or a bowl.

If the weather is damp and your beans need to be dried, pull the plant up by the roots and hang them upside down in a dry place to dry.

Once the dry beans have been harvested, keep the dried beans in an airtight container and store in a dry, cool place for planting. They should store well up to 3 years.