Pole Beans – Gardening Solutions (2024)

Pole Beans – Gardening Solutions (1)

Climbing beans like pole beans, winged beans, and long beans, are popular plants in Florida vegetable gardens. They’re easy to grow, even in poor soil. And, as the name implies, these beans love to climb. You can trellis the lovely vines in your vegetable garden or plant them along an existing fence to create a foodscape.

Because they grow vertically, pole bean yields per square foot are significantly higher than most bush bean varieties. A ten-foot row of pole beans can produce 8 pounds of beans in a single season. The estimated yield for bush beans in the same space is only 4.5 pounds. If space is limited, pole beans are the plants for you.

Pick Florida-Friendly Varieties

There are dozens of different species of pole beans. ‘McCaslan’, ‘Kentucky Wonder’, ‘Rattlesnake’, and ‘Blue Lake’ are some great varieties for Florida gardens. If you choose pole beans not on this list, look for options that are rust-resistant, a must in Florida’s humid climate.

Other species of climbing beans include long and yard-long beans (Vigna unguiculatasubs.Sesquipedalis), winged beans (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus), and some varieties of broad bean (Vicia faba). Scarlet runner (Phaseolus coccineus) and hyacinth beans (Lablab purpureus) are both so beautiful that they are often planted as ornamentals. The seeds of these species are less commonly sold, but many gardeners agree that they are well worth the search.

Planting and Care

Deciding when to plant your pole beans will depend on your location. In Florida, beans are a warm season crop and can be planted twice a year. Take a look atthe Florida Vegetable Gardening Guideto determine when to plant in your area.

Because bean plants have weak root systems, sow your pole bean seed directly into your garden. Transplanting them could damage their roots. For the same reason install the trellis or support structure before you plant. And don’t be afraid to get creative! Artistic trellises add beauty to the vegetable garden. Likewise, climbing beans can add temporary greenery to a bare expanse of wall or fence. For more information on training and supporting climbing plants, please seeour article, “Versatile Vines.”

Pole Beans – Gardening Solutions (3)

Since ancient times, one common support structure for climbing beans has been corn stalks.Corn,beans, andsquashare called the“Three Sisters,”a winning combination discovered by Mesoamerican peoples thousands of years ago. The corn provides support for the beans, the beans fix nitrogen to fertilize the soil, and the squash leaves’ shade suppresses weeds. If you’d like to mix a little history in with your gardening, who not give the “sisters” a try using Florida-Friendly varieties?

However you decide to plant them, sow pole bean seeds deep, about 1 inch into the soil and about 3–5 inches apart. If you plant multiple rows, space them at least 36 inches apart. For other climbing bean varieties follow the directions of the grower.

As with all new plants, irrigation is critically important to climbing beans. Keep the soil consistently moist until your seeds sprout. After they have a set of true leaves, water whenever you notice the soil surface has dried out. Be especially careful not to disturb the soil deeply when you weed.

Pole beans will grow well in your garden or a container; just make sure they’re in a location where they will receive at least six to eight hours of full sun every day. Fertilize pole beans at half the rate used for other vegetables. Avoid applying excessive nitrogen; this will increase foliage but decrease yields.

Harvesting Your Pole Beans

Pole Beans – Gardening Solutions (4)

Pole beans should be ready for harvest after about 50–70 days. Other climbing bean species may take a little more or less time to mature; check the links below for details.

Depending on the variety you plant, climbing beans can be harvested green (for immediate use) or dry. If you’re interested in green beans, or “snap” beans, harvest them as soon as they’re big enough to eat.

Harvest mature beans regularly to keep your plants producing. You can leave them to dry on the plant or pull whole vines off to dry indoors; wait until the leaves have turned yellow. The seed pods will start to split open as they dry and the seeds can be easily removed.

Beans are among the easiest seeds to save; keep some of your harvest properly stored and you can replant them next season. For more on collecting and storing seed, seeour article on seed saving.

For more information on growing climbing beans, contactyour county Extension office.

Also on Gardening Solutions

  • Bush Beans
  • Heat-tolerant Vegetables
  • Three Sisters for Florida
  • Versatile Vines

More from UF/IFAS

  • Bean, Broad —Vicia faba
  • Bean, Dry –Phaseolus vulgaris L.
  • Bean, Hyacinth –Dolichos lablaborLablab purpureus
  • Bean, Scarlet Runner –Phaseolus coccineus
  • Bean, Winged –Psophocarpus tetragonolobus
  • Bean, Yard-Long —Vigna unguiculatasubsp.sesquipedalis
  • Florida Plant ID: Snap Beans,Phaseolus vulgaris
  • Long Bean – an Asian Vegetable Emerging in Florida
Pole Beans – Gardening Solutions (2024)

FAQs

Pole Beans – Gardening Solutions? ›

Pole beans will grow well in your garden or a container; just make sure they're in a location where they will receive at least six to eight hours of full sun every day. Fertilize pole beans at half the rate used for other vegetables. Avoid applying excessive nitrogen; this will increase foliage but decrease yields.

What is the secret to growing pole beans? ›

Pole beans need at least an inch (2.5 cm.) of water per week and should not be allowed to dry out, but also cannot tolerate soggy soils. Beans need a little help climbing their support structure, especially when young. It's important to get them up off the ground early to prevent rot and loss of blooms.

What's the best fertilizer for pole beans? ›

Feed your pole bean plants with Miracle-Gro® Performance Organics® Edibles Plant Nutrition every week throughout the growing season, following the label directions. Not only will this fertilize your plants, but it will feed the soil, too. Most pole beans are ready for harvest 60 to 65 days after planting.

What is the best companion plant for pole beans? ›

Bush & Pole beans – All beans fix nitrogen in the soil. Plant with Brassicas, carrots, celery, chard, corn, cucumber, eggplant, peas, potatoes, radish, and strawberries. Avoid planting near chives, garlic, leeks, and onions. Pole beans and beets stunt each other's growth.

Are coffee grounds good for pole beans? ›

Note that some plants respond better to coffee grounds than others. Consider using coffee grounds as a fertilizer on tomatoes, cabbage, soybeans, fruit trees, corn, roses and camellias. However, don't use directly on the soil when you are growing beans or bean-related plants.

What not to plant with pole beans? ›

Do not plant beans near garlic, onions, chives, leeks, scallions, shallots, peppers, wormwood, fennel, or gladioli. Alliums such as garlic, onions, chives, leeks, scallions, and shallots will stunt the growth of the beans. Beets are beneficial to Bush beans. However, pole beans and beets stunt each other's growth.

How do I encourage beans to flower? ›

To promote flowering you need to have potassium (potash) fertiliser to help initiate flowering. It sounds like your soil may be rich in nitrogen which will give you the healthy green growth which comes from adding nitrogen rich material such as compost, blood and bone, sheep pellets to the soil.

Do pole beans like marigolds? ›

Marigolds have a reputation for protecting beans from pests, but studies have not observed fewer leaf-eating pests on beans grown with marigolds. However, it does appear that some bean varieties do grow better in the company of marigolds, which share beans' liking for vibrant interactions with soil microbes.

Do pole beans need something to climb on? ›

Unlike the bush varieties, pole beans require some kind of climbing support, such as a trellis, netting, or fence.

Can you plant tomatoes with pole beans? ›

If you plant the beans with your tomatoes the soil will be constantly replenished. You can plant either pole beans or bush beans. Plant the seeds at the same time you plant the tomato transplants. Keep the bush beans south of the tomatoes so the bean plants won't be shaded by the tomato plants.

Can you plant cucumbers next to pole beans? ›

Beans, peas, and other legumes are well known for their nitrogen-fixing abilities, which naturally improve garden soil. Planting legumes near your cucumbers and other veggies will give your crops a much-needed nutrient boost and may even increase your harvest yields.

What is the best setup for pole beans? ›

Install pole bean supports in place at planting time. Make a simple trellis of six-foot stakes and twine, or set up a teepee of bamboo poles or long branches. Plant seeds in a row in front of the trellis. Plant seeds four inches apart or two to four seeds at the base of each pole.

Do pole beans like full sun or shade? ›

Pole beans will grow well in your garden or a container; just make sure they're in a location where they will receive at least six to eight hours of full sun every day. Fertilize pole beans at half the rate used for other vegetables.

Can I just sprinkle coffee grounds in my garden? ›

Adding coffee grounds directly to the soil as a fertiliser can be a good option. Coffee grounds are rich in nutrients, especially nitrogen. They also have some amount of other nutrients like potassium and phosphorous. Overall, this means that adding coffee grounds to your garden can work fairly well as a fertiliser.

What is the best thing for pole beans to climb? ›

Simple bamboo teepees erected over the pot will work. Or you can get fancy and build a wooden tower or purchase a manufactured trellis made just for container growing. These beans are growing in fabric bags and are supported with a series of bamboo teepee trellises.

What month do you plant pole beans? ›

Plant seeds 2 inches deep and 6 inches apart in late spring, after the last frost has passed and the soil is warm. Install a sturdy trellis before you plant your pole beans. Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.

What nutrients do pole beans need to grow? ›

Beans do not require high amounts of nitrogen because they produce their own nitrogen. If the soil has been properly amended before planting the beans will not need additional nutrients. If a fertilizer is needed, use a vegetable fertilizer with more phosphorous and potassium than nitrogen.

How to increase bean yield? ›

Beans grow well in nutritious soils with good drainage. Properly loosen the soil to break up any clay-like structure. Beans are nitrogen-fixing plants; they can make the soil more fertile by drawing nitrogen. Just compost your soil, and you will be good to go to the next planting stage.

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