Pole Beans Growing Tips

As an extremely easy crop to grow, pole beans are great for beginners and seasoned gardeners alike. Recommended varieties of pole beans include McCaslan, Dade, Kentucky Wonder, and Blue Lake.

How to grow pole seeds

Leave a space between rows of the beans, 40-48 inches. Spacing between plants should be three to six inches at a planting depth of one to two inches.

The beans can be grown on a bean teepee designed using poles or strings spreading out from a centralized post. To begin, stake strings or set poles one to two feet apart into the ground. At the base of each string or pole, plant two or three seeds. As the beans sprout, train the vines up poles or strings. Allow older vines to cross over from one string to another. Feed the planting with a light feeding of 6-6-6 every two to three weeks.

When to plant

This beans are tender and should not be planted until all threat of frost has passed to prevent damage.

How long it takes to grow pole beans

Pole seed germination takes 7-10 days on average. It is typically 55-70 days from planting to harvest. The seeds should be planted at the desired final spacing because pole bean seed usually can be counted on to germinate as expected. Transplant younger plants if they are growing too closely together.

Soil

Many gardeners like to inoculate bean seed with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. This treatment is not usually necessary if bacteria are already present in the soil where you live. Mulching deters weeds and retains moisture to the garden bed.

Watering

Keep soil moist while the seed germinates. After germination, allow the surface to dry a bit between watering.

Pest Control

Major pests of are nematodes. The microscopic roundworms invade root tissue and cause knots to form. Symptoms of nematode damage mimic nutrient and water deficiency. Check the garden site prior to planting for signs of infestation. Look for varieties that are nematode resistant if this is a common problem in your area.

Any chemical fumigation treatment should take place a month before planting. Fumigate for nematodes using a hoe to open row six inches deep. Spray on pesticide, close rows with soil. Cover area with plastic, securing the edges with soil.

Avoid chemicals by using the summer heat to bake away nematodes with a technique called solarization. The pests are destroyed when the soil is baked to 120 degrees in full sun. Soil must be loosened and watered well. Cover the prepared site with clear plastic sheets and seal the sides to retain the heat. Treatment should continue for at least four weeks.

Disease Prevention

Known attackers of are rust and stem rot. Rust affects most bean varieties. Natural controls include garden sulfur.

Harvesting and Storaging Pole beans

Pick as the seeds begin to swell. Small pole beans are tender and need to be harvested before becoming stringy and tough. As the beans age, their outer skin becomes tougher.

Harvest every several days. Production is prolonged by picking beans frequently. Rinse freshly picked beans and cook whole by boiling, stir-frying, or steaming.

Pole beans are delicious when picked fresh and cooked soon after preparing. The beans need to be eaten within a few days of harvesting. Store in the refrigerator to keep the carbohydrates from turning into sugars, which changes the bean flavor. The beans can be frozen to enjoy year round. Shell and freeze soon after gathering.

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