Bush beans offer gardeners the option of both succession and relay planting, ensuring fresh green beans throughout the growing season. In relay planting, new bean plant rows are established every 10 to 14 days. In succession planting, spent bean plants are removed and the plot replanted. Using a combination of these two methods, you'll be able to harvest bushels of beans from late spring to early fall. For truly intensive planting, sow cool-season crops such as lettuce or early peas before and after you plant and harvest warm-season bush beans.
Plot out the garden area in which you'll be planting the bush beans. Divide the section roughly into thirds, either mentally or with garden twine and markers. You may choose to use a third of a garden bed at a time or devote one of three garden rows or two of six rows, as space allows. Spacing requirements are not precise.
Remove about a third of your spent cool-season crops, if you were growing any. Sow about one-third of the designated area with the first row of bush beans spaced about 6 inches apart in all directions and at a depth of 1 inch. For gardeners in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 10, the first beans are usually planted in April.
Plant a second row or group of bush beans 10 to 14 day after sowing the first crop, removing any cool-season crops that are still in the ground.
Sow the third crop 10 to 14 days after the second crop, again removing cool-season crops that are still in the ground.
Pick bush beans from the first batch of planted beans. Your first wave of beans will be ready for harvest 45 to 60 days after planting, depending on the variety.
Remove bush bean plants after the first group has borne beans. The plants produce only one set of beans and then die.
Sow a new group of bean seeds in the area where you just removed the spent bush beans plants.
Harvest and replant the second group of bean plants about two weeks after picking the first.
Harvest and replant the third group of bean plants about two weeks after picking the second.
Harvest the beans from the second set of plantings, which will again produce about two weeks apart from one another.
Start at least one additional group of bush beans in late summer if you think you have another 45 to 60 days of frost-free weather. Floating row covers can extend the season as cold weather approaches.
Things You Will Need
- Black mulch (optional)
- Row covers (optional)
- Stakes and garden twine (optional)
- If you prefer two or three massive harvests to can or freeze green beans all at once, sow the entire bean patch at the same time. Harvest the first planting, then replant for a second and -- possibly -- third, late-season crop.
- To get the earliest possible head start on planting green beans, lay black plastic mulch over the garden soil to warm it. Starting your bush bean plants inside also gives you a jump on the season.
- Regular watering is especially important when bush beans begin to flower and again when the young beans emerge on the plants.
- As eager as you may be to get your green bean planting underway, you'll only end up with a garden full of rotted seeds if you don't wait until the soil has warmed properly. The soil should be at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit before outdoor planting commences.
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