Warm seasonVegetableDirect

Bean, Bush

Phaseolus vulgaris

Bush bean is a compact warm-season legume sown directly once frost risk has passed. Plants need no trellis, mature in about 45–60 days from sowing, and respond well to sowings every 14 days so pods ripen in manageable waves. Frost-tender seed goes out roughly one to three weeks after the last spring frost when soil has warmed.

Plant family Fabaceae · Also called bush bean, snap bean

Bean, Bush
45–60 daysfrom sowing to harvest
Planting timing

Direct-sow once nights stay warm.

Direct sow seed about 2.5 cm deep after soil warms. The outdoor window runs from roughly one to three weeks after the last spring frost because the crop is frost-tender.

Germination typically occurs in 6–10 days. Succession sowing about every 14 days extends the fresh pod season. Avoid cultivating or harvesting when foliage is wet to limit disease spread on crowded bush canopies.

1 weeks after to 3 weeks after last frostDirect sow outdoors

Use this range as a planning baseline and adjust for local conditions.

2.5 cm deepSow seed

Use this range as a planning baseline and adjust for local conditions.

6–10 daysExpect germination

Use this range as a planning baseline and adjust for local conditions.

45–60 daysBegin harvest

Use this range as a planning baseline and adjust for local conditions.

Planting material: Seed. Life cycle: Annual.
Space & containers

Space compact bushes for airflow.

Space plants 10–15 cm apart with rows near 60 cm. Bush types stay relatively short but still need airflow between stems for pod development and drying after rain.

A container with at least 30 cm depth and about 12 litres of medium can hold a small planting. Support is not required, though a wide pot prevents top-heavy plants from tipping as pods fill.

Core measurements

Between plants10–15 cm

Crop-level planning range.

Between rows60 cm

Crop-level planning range.

Container depth30+ cm

Crop-level planning range.

Container volume12+ L

Crop-level planning range.

Growth habitBush

Allow for the mature form of the selected variety.

SupportNone

Install support early when it is required or useful.

Growing conditions

Water evenly through pod fill.

Six hours of direct sun per day is the minimum under the full-sun label. Beans convert light quickly into pod set, so shaded sites produce fewer usable pods.

Moderate water need corresponds to 25–35 mm weekly as a planning figure. Soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0 is listed. Check moisture at the root zone because fast warm-season growth dries shallow containers sooner than the weekly range alone suggests.

Sunlight

6+ hours

Full sun (6+ direct-sun hours/day)

Soil pH

6–7

A suitable acidity range for general growth.

Weekly water

25–35 mm

Moderate water need.

How to water

Aim for even moisture and water deeply when the upper 2-3 cm of soil begins to dry.

Growth & harvest

Harvest on a short sowing clock.

The 45–60 day range is counted from sowing, including germination within the 6–10 day band. Pods are normally picked before seeds inside become hard and lumpy.

Frequent picking encourages new flowers on determinate bush types. If plants are left idle with mature seeds forming, flowering often slows and the harvest window closes earlier than the calendar range implies.

Germination6–10 days

Read with the full crop profile.

Harvest basisSowing

Read with the full crop profile.

Life cycleAnnual

Read with the full crop profile.

Frost toleranceTender

Read with the full crop profile.

Key growing tip

Sow in short batches for a longer harvest and avoid working among wet leaves.

Bean, Bush growing questions

Do bush beans need a trellis?

No. The growth habit is bush and support is listed as none. Pole types are a different habit not covered by this spacing profile.

How often can bush beans be resown?

The dataset includes a 14-day succession interval where the season allows. Stagger sowings rather than planting the entire bed at once.

What seed depth is used for bush beans?

Sow about 2.5 cm deep. That depth balances moisture contact with emergence through warm crusting soil.

Are bush beans frost hardy?

No. Frost tolerance is tender, so outdoor sowing waits until about one to three weeks after the last spring frost.

Profile values are crop-level planning ranges compiled from sources S1,S2,S4. Local climate and variety can change actual results.

Explore another crop

Compare bean, bush with other vegetables, herbs, and fruits in Crop Brief.

Browse all 50 crops