🌱 How To Grow Beans: Bush vs. Pole and Everything In Between
Beans have quickly become one of my favorite things to grow. Not just because they’re delicious and productive—but because they’re so satisfying to watch as they take off in the garden. Whether you’re leaning toward bush beans or planning to build a trellis for pole beans, I’ve grown both and can share what’s worked (and what hasn’t) from my own garden.
🌿 Bush Beans vs. Pole Beans: What’s the Difference?
This was one of the first things I had to figure out when I started growing beans—what type was best for my garden setup? Here’s what I’ve learned:
🫘 Bush Beans
- Compact and low-growing: They stay under 2 feet tall
- No trellis needed: Perfect for containers or tight spaces
- Fast maturity: Usually ready in 50–60 days
- Short harvest window: Tends to produce all at once
I love growing bush beans when I want a quick harvest or want to tuck a few plants in between other crops.
🌿 Pole Beans
- Climbers: Grow 6 to 10 feet or more
- Needs support: I have used bamboo teepees or trellises. This year I have incorporated cattle panel arches for the first time so they can be used year after year!
- Longer maturity: Usually takes 65–75 days
- Continuous harvest: Keeps producing for weeks
When I want high yields in a small footprint and don’t mind training the vines, pole beans are my go-to.
How to Choose Between Bush and Pole Beans
It really comes down to space, time, and effort. If you’re short on space or want a quick harvest, go with bush beans. If you’ve got a trellis or vertical space and want a longer harvest season, pole beans will reward you big time.
🌱 Bean Varieties I Recommend
 Bush Beans:
- Provider: My favorite early bean—reliable even in cool soil
- Blue Lake 274: Classic flavor and tender pods
- Contender: Early and great for short seasons
Pole Beans:
- Kentucky Wonder: Heirloom favorite with rich flavor
- Blue Lake Pole: Similar to the bush version but keeps producing
- Rattlesnake Pole: Gorgeous purple-streaked pods and heat tolerant
How I Grow Beans for Big Harvests
Here are my tried-and-true growing tips for both bush and pole beans:
- Full sun is key: Beans love heat and need at least 6–8 hours of sun daily
- Well-draining soil: I mix in compost before planting but avoid over-fertilizing—too much nitrogen = lots of leaves, few beans. Beans seem to really love crushed up egg shells too and those provide an added bonus to help deter pests such as slugs.
- Plant in blocks, not rows: Especially for bush beans—this helps support the plants and increases yields
- Water consistently: I water deeply 1–2 times a week unless it rains
- Mulch: Helps conserve moisture and reduce weeds
🌿 Companion Planting for Beans
Beans play well with many garden friends thanks to their nitrogen-fixing ability. Here are a few companions I’ve had great luck with:
- Corn: Classic “Three Sisters” companion—pole beans climb corn stalks
- Radishes & carrots: Grow well between bean rows
- Marigolds: Help deter pests and add cheerful color nearby
Avoid: Onions, garlic, and leeks. In my experience, these don’t get along with beans—they can stunt their growth.
🌱 Starting Beans from Seed
Beans are super easy to start from seed. In fact, they’re one of the first seeds I ever successfully grew! Here’s what I do:
- Direct sow: Wait until after your last frost and the soil is at least 60°F
- Spacing: I plant bush beans 2–4 inches apart, pole beans 4–6 inches apart at the base of a trellis
- Soak (optional): I sometimes soak seeds overnight to speed up germination although this seems to be a bit of an unnecessary step since they sprout so quickly without soaking.
- Keep moist: Don’t let the soil dry out while seeds are germinating
Saving Bean Seeds for Next Season
One of the easiest seed-saving wins in my garden is with beans. Just let a few pods fully mature and dry on the plant. Here’s what I do:
- Let pods stay on the plant until they’re brown and brittle
- Pick and crack them open—beans should be hard and dry
- Store in a paper envelope or glass jar in a cool, dry place
- Label them! Trust me—future-you will be glad you did
When Are Beans Ready to Harvest?
I check my plants almost daily once they start producing. Here’s how I know when it’s time to pick:
- Snap beans (green beans): Harvest when pods are firm, smooth, and snap easily
- Avoid bulging: If the seeds are swelling inside, they’re past their prime for fresh eating (but great for saving seeds!)
- Harvest often: The more you pick, the more the plant produces
My Final Thoughts + Let’s Connect!
If you’ve never grown beans before, I really encourage you to give them a try. Whether you tuck a few bush beans in a raised bed or go big with pole beans on a trellis, they’re one of the most rewarding crops I’ve grown. Easy, productive, and fun to share with friends and neighbors.
Have you grown beans before? Are you team bush bean or pole bean? I’d love to see your garden in action—
