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Green Bean

Phaseolus vulgaris

VegetablesToxic

Compact bush bean producing tender pods over several weeks. Sow successionally for a continuous harvest through summer.

Overview

SunFull Sun
WaterMediumCalculate watering amount
Height30–50 cm
Spread30 cm
Spacing10 cm
Row Spacing45 cm
Germination8–16 days
To Harvest50–65 days

Companion Planting

Toxicity

SeverityMildly toxic
Toxic toHumans, Dogs, Cats

Raw green beans contain lectins (phytohaemagglutinin) that can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea if consumed in large quantities uncooked. Cooking thoroughly destroys lectins and makes them safe. Cooked green beans are non-toxic and safe for humans, dogs, and cats. ASPCA does not list green beans as toxic to pets; cooked green beans are commonly recommended as healthy dog treats.

Planting Tips

LocationGarden bed, raised bed, or container; full sun (6-8 hours daily). Provide trellising or poles for climbing (pole) varieties.
SoilWell-drained, fertile, loamy soil with pH 6.0-6.8. Avoid heavy clay; beans fix nitrogen so overly rich soil is not necessary.
Sowing Depth3 cm
Planting Depth3 cm
WateringWater deeply and consistently, providing about 2.5 cm per week. Water at the base to keep foliage dry; increase frequency during flowering and pod formation.

1 cm of water per m² equals 10 liters. Use the Watering Calculator for exact amounts.

FertilizingApply a low-nitrogen, phosphorus-rich fertilizer at planting. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers as beans fix their own nitrogen through root nodules; excess nitrogen promotes foliage over pods.

Care Tip: Mulch with 5-8 cm of straw to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Harvest pods every 2-3 days when young and tender to encourage continuous production. Avoid working around wet plants to prevent spreading bacterial diseases.

Common Pests

Bean Aphid

Symptoms: Colonies of small black or dark green insects on stems and leaf undersides; curled and distorted leaves; sticky honeydew residue and sooty mold; stunted growth.

Treatment: Dislodge with a strong water spray; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil to affected areas. Encourage natural predators such as ladybugs and lacewings.

Prevention: Inspect plants regularly, especially growing tips; avoid excessive nitrogen fertilization; use companion planting with nasturtiums or marigolds to deter aphids.

Mexican Bean Beetle

Symptoms: Skeletonized leaves with only the veins remaining; copper-colored beetles and yellow spiny larvae on leaf undersides; damaged pods with surface feeding scars.

Treatment: Handpick adults and larvae from plants; apply neem oil or pyrethrin-based insecticide; introduce the parasitic wasp Pediobius foveolatus as biological control.

Prevention: Remove plant debris after harvest to eliminate overwintering sites; use floating row covers until flowering; practice crop rotation.

Bean Leaf Beetle

Symptoms: Small round holes chewed in leaves; feeding damage on pods leaving scars and entry points for disease; yellowish-green or reddish beetles with black spots on wing covers.

Treatment: Apply kaolin clay spray to deter feeding; use neem oil or pyrethrin for heavy infestations; handpick beetles in small plantings.

Prevention: Delay planting slightly to avoid peak beetle emergence; use row covers during early growth; remove crop residue and nearby weed hosts.

Common Diseases

Bacterial Blight

Symptoms: Water-soaked spots on leaves that enlarge and turn brown with yellow halos; lesions on pods appear as sunken, water-soaked areas that may ooze bacterial exudate; wilting and defoliation in severe cases.

Treatment: Remove and destroy infected plants and debris; apply copper-based bactericide at first sign of symptoms to slow spread. No cure once established.

Prevention: Use certified disease-free or treated seed; practice 2-3 year crop rotation away from all beans; avoid overhead watering and working among wet plants; choose resistant varieties.

Anthracnose

Symptoms: Dark brown to black sunken lesions on pods, stems, and leaves; lesions on pods often show pink spore masses in wet conditions; veins on leaf undersides darken; seedlings may show stem cankers.

Treatment: Remove and destroy infected plant parts; apply copper-based fungicide or approved organic fungicide at early signs of infection.

Prevention: Plant certified disease-free seed; practice crop rotation of at least 2 years; avoid overhead irrigation; do not handle plants when foliage is wet; choose resistant cultivars.

Bean Rust

Symptoms: Small reddish-brown to rust-colored pustules on leaf undersides; corresponding yellow spots on upper leaf surfaces; severe infections cause leaf drop, reduced vigor, and poor pod development.

Treatment: Remove heavily infected leaves; apply sulfur-based or approved fungicide at first sign of pustules; destroy crop residue after harvest.

Prevention: Plant rust-resistant varieties; ensure good air circulation with proper spacing; avoid overhead watering; practice crop rotation; remove volunteer bean plants and debris.