How to sow dwarf beans in a pot (2024)

FAQs

How do you plant dwarf beans in a pot? ›

Fill the container with good quality peat-free compost to within 2.5cm (1”) of the rim, level off. Push 3 beans evenly spaced around the edge, about 2.5cm (1”) into the compost and cover. Water in with a fine rose. For a succession of beans throughout the summer sow a pot at 2 weekly intervals.

For dwarf beans the container should be 30–45cm (12–18in) wide, and for climbing beans 75cm (30in) wide, 45cm (18in) deep and heavy enough to keep it from toppling over once the climbing beans are at the top of their supports.

When planting green bean seeds, depth and spacing are important. Plant the seeds about 1 inch deep into the soil. For bush beans, space the seeds 2 inches apart in the pot. Pole bean seeds should be spaced about 4 inches apart if you're planting them around a central pole or trellis.

As with other broad beans, you can pinch out the growing tip once lower pods have formed to deter black flies. (Some of us wait until we see the blackfly first, but if you want to be preemptive, do it sooner.) These beans are especially subject to predation by slugs and other garden pests.

Plant dwarf beans after spring radishes, coriander or rocket, with a few of the bolting plants left behind. Radish, coriander and rocket flowers attract beneficial insects, and can help to confuse pests in search of beans. You can also interplant dwarf beans with onions to deter pests from both crops.

Almost all seeds can be pre-soaked, but it is large seeds, seeds with thick coats and wrinkled seeds that will benefit most. Small seeds benefit less and are difficult to handle when wet. Examples of seeds that benefit from soaking include peas, beets, cucumber, corn, squash, pumpkin and beans.

A 5 gallon bucket is the perfect size for 3 bush bean plants or for 2 pole bean plants. Follow these must know tips to grow a bumper harvest of tasty beans.

Direct Sowing Dwarf French Beans

Sow beans 4cm deep with a spacing of 15cm between plants and 40cm between rows. Slugs Slugs can be a major problem when seedlings are small. Use an organic slug pellet or use a beer trap for control. Put cloches in place two weeks before sowing to warm up the ground.

For climbing beans, insert a wigwam of 2.5m (8ft) canes (see Putting up supports, above) into the container before sowing. Dwarf beans don't usually need support and look great cascading over the sides of a pot or even in a hanging basket.

If you are growing climbing beans then take some Soft Tie and loosely tie young plants to the canes to get them started. Dwarf beans don't need the support but you can insert short twiggy sticks between the plants to keep them upright and keep the pods off the soil.

How do you transplant beans? ›

They are ready to transplant in 3 weeks. By growing them as a "plug" size, you avoid transplant shock since it doesn't disturb the roots. Plant them in a straight line against a trellis system if its a vining/pole type of bean. If its a bush bean, then plant 9 plugs in a square foot (square foot gardening guidelines).

All beans require full sun and fertile, well-drained soil for maximum yield. Incorporate some organic matter and a complete fertilizer into the soil before planting. When soils are above 60ºF, space rows 18-24 inches apart and plant seeds 1 inch deep and 2-3 inches apart in the row.

Bush green beans do well in containers as small as 8" deep and 8" wide per plant. Try 'Bush Blue Lake' or 'Contender' for good flavor and consistent production. Pole beans need a larger container and a sturdy trellising system. 'Cherokee Trail of Tears' can be grown both for fresh green bean or as a dry bean.