Harvest Type:  Continuous throughout the growing season

Transplant/Direct Sow:  Direct sow

When to Plant:  After the last average frost date.

Days to Germinate:  10 days

Days to Maturity:  80 days

Planting Depth:  1” deep

Germination Temp:  60-65°F

Seed Spacing:  6” apart

Rows:  2' apart

Light:  Full sun

Soil pH:  6.5 pH

Water:  1” of water per week

Soil Temperature:  60-65°F

Fertilizer:  10-10-10 N-P-K ratio

Rotation:  Annually

Harvest Type

Pole beans are an indeterminate annual plant with a single harvest that stretches through the growing season.

TIP: To increase the weekly harvest of pole beans, plant twice as many as you think you need. The indeterminate nature of pole beans means they produce only some beans each week.

Transplant / Direct Sow

Direct sow pole bean seeds. They do not like to be transplanted, and their taproot is fragile.

When to Plant:

Sow pole bean seeds directly when the danger of frost has passed. The soil temperature should be 60°F-65°F.

Days to germinate

It takes pole bean seeds about 10 days to germinate.

Days to maturity

It takes about 80 days, depending on the bean variety you plant.

Planting Depth

1" deep

Germination Temperature Range

Pole beans are heat lovers. They germinate when the soil is around 60°F.

Spacing Between Plants

Space seeds 6-8" apart and keep rows 2' apart.

TIP: A little extra space between plants is okay as it allows more sunlight to reach and warm the soil.

Growing conditions

Pole beans are kind of fussy about soil. They love well-drained, loamy soil and a little fertilizer, but not a lot. Amend the soil before planting seeds, and water them to keep them moist but not soggy.  Plant in full sun when the outside temperature is over 75°F and the soil temperature is above 60°F.

Companion Plants

Cucumber, melons, and peas are excellent companion plants. You can grow pole beans in your cornfield too.

Rotation

Rotate pole beans on a 4-5 year cycle. They are nitrogen-fixing plants, so they only need a small amount of fertilizer each year.

Anticipated yields

Plan your garden yield at 8 per person for daily consumption. If you plan your yield for the full year, plan on planting about 25-row feet of pole beans per person. That would be about 30-38 plants per 25 feet. Pole beans and bush beans are a staple for canning and preserving.