How to Grow Beans (Bush)

Beginner-Friendly

Phaseolus vulgaris

A warm-season legume that fixes nitrogen. Bush varieties are compact and don't need trellising. Prolific producer.

Last updated: June 2026

Days to Maturity

50–60 days

typical

Per Square Foot

Plant Spacing

10 cm / 4"

Sun

6+ hours

Water

1.0" / 25 mm

Fertilization

light feeder

Growing Notes

Direct sow after last frost. Do not transplant — beans resent root disturbance. Succession sow every 2–3 weeks.

Varieties & Cultivars

18 cultivars in our database. Click any card to see growing details.

Bush

(11)

Blue Lake 274

54–60 days Open-Pollinated

excellent flavour; good for freezing

Height: 15–22" (38–56 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Avg fruit: 0.2 oz (7 g)
Support: none
Harvest: continuous
USDA Zones: 3–11
Seed saving: easy
Seed viability: 3 years

Contender

48–55 days Open-Pollinated

cold-tolerant; sets pods at lower temperatures

Height: 15–20" (38–51 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Avg fruit: 0.2 oz (6 g)
Support: none
Harvest: continuous
USDA Zones: 3–11
Seed saving: easy
Seed viability: 3 years

Derby

52–57 days Open-Pollinated

upright compact bush; consistent performer

Height: 15–20" (38–51 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Avg fruit: 0.2 oz (6 g)
Support: none
Harvest: continuous
USDA Zones: 3–11
Seed saving: easy
Seed viability: 3 years

Dragon Tongue

55–60 days Open-Pollinated

dual-use snap or shell bean

Height: 15–24" (38–61 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Avg fruit: 0.2 oz (6 g)
Support: none
Harvest: continuous
USDA Zones: 3–11
Seed saving: easy
Seed viability: 3 years

Golden Wax

50–55 days Open-Pollinated

buttery flavour; compact bush habit

Height: 15–18" (38–46 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Avg fruit: 0.2 oz (6 g)
Support: none
Harvest: continuous
USDA Zones: 3–11
Seed saving: easy
Seed viability: 3 years

Henderson Lima

65–70 days Open-Pollinated

compact 46-56cm bush habit; more cold-tolerant than large limas; very productive; good for freezing; also called butterbean

Height: 18–22" (46–56 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Avg fruit: 0.1 oz (3 g)
Support: none
Harvest: continuous
USDA Zones: 5–11
Seed saving: easy
Seed viability: 3 years

Jade

53–58 days Hybrid

good heat tolerance

Height: 15–22" (38–56 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Avg fruit: 0.2 oz (6 g)
Support: none
Harvest: continuous
USDA Zones: 3–11
Seed saving: difficult
Seed viability: 3 years

Provider

48–52 days Open-Pollinated

very reliable in adverse conditions

Height: 15–20" (38–51 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Avg fruit: 0.2 oz (6 g)
Support: none
Harvest: continuous
USDA Zones: 3–11
Seed saving: easy
Seed viability: 3 years

Roma II

53–59 days Open-Pollinated

meaty texture; excellent for freezing

Height: 15–20" (38–51 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Avg fruit: 0.2 oz (6 g)
Support: none
Harvest: continuous
USDA Zones: 3–11
Seed saving: easy
Seed viability: 3 years

Royal Burgundy

51–55 days Open-Pollinated

cold-tolerant germination

Height: 15–20" (38–51 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Avg fruit: 0.2 oz (6 g)
Support: none
Harvest: continuous
USDA Zones: 3–11
Seed saving: easy
Seed viability: 3 years

Tendergreen

50–56 days Open-Pollinated

performs well in wide temperature range

Height: 15–20" (38–51 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Avg fruit: 0.2 oz (6 g)
Support: none
Harvest: continuous
USDA Zones: 3–11
Seed saving: easy
Seed viability: 3 years

Early bush green bean

(1)

Top Crop

50–58 days Open-Pollinated

heavy producer; 50cm pods; excellent flavour; good for canning

Height: 12–18" (30–46 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Avg fruit: 0.4 oz (12 g)
Support: none
Harvest: continuous
USDA Zones: 3–10
Seed saving: easy
Seed viability: 3 years

Heirloom yellow pole bean

(1)

Cherokee Wax

55–65 days Open-Pollinated

excellent flavour; Southern garden staple; open pollinated

Height: 94–106" (240–270 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Avg fruit: 0.5 oz (14 g)
Support: vertical
Harvest: continuous
USDA Zones: 3–10
Seed saving: easy
Seed viability: 3 years

Pole

(3)

Kentucky Wonder

60–65 days Open-Pollinated

rich nutty flavour; heavy yielder

Height: 59–79" (150–200 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Avg fruit: 0.2 oz (6 g)
Support: trellis
Harvest: continuous
USDA Zones: 3–11
Seed saving: easy
Seed viability: 3 years

Rattlesnake

60–70 days Open-Pollinated

drought tolerant; good for drying

Height: 59–98" (150–250 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Avg fruit: 0.2 oz (6 g)
Support: trellis
Harvest: continuous
USDA Zones: 3–11
Seed saving: easy
Seed viability: 3 years

Scarlet Runner

65–75 days Open-Pollinated

edible flowers; perennial in mild climates

Height: 71–118" (180–300 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Avg fruit: 0.3 oz (8 g)
Support: trellis
Harvest: continuous
USDA Zones: 3–11
Seed saving: easy
Seed viability: 3 years

Tall pole bean

(1)

Fortex

55–65 days Open-Pollinated

long straight pods; reliable heavy producer; classic garden favourite

Height: 94–106" (240–270 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Avg fruit: 0.5 oz (15 g)
Support: vertical
Harvest: continuous
USDA Zones: 3–10
Seed saving: easy
Seed viability: 3 years

Vibrant purple pods turn green when cooked

(1)

Purple Pole

55–65 days Open-Pollinated

tender crisp; visually striking; AAS winner 1995

Height: 94–106" (240–270 cm)
Yield / plant: —
Avg fruit: 0.5 oz (14 g)
Support: vertical
Harvest: continuous
USDA Zones: 3–10
Seed saving: easy
Seed viability: 3 years

Companion Planting

What to grow alongside beans (bush), and what to keep apart.

Plant With

Potato : Beans repel Colorado potato beetles

Rosemary : Rosemary repels bean beetles

Watermelon : Watermelon shades bean roots; beans fix nitrogen for watermelon

Strawberry : Beans fix nitrogen which benefits heavy-feeding strawberries

Corn : Corn provides a natural trellis for pole beans; beans fix nitrogen

Radish : Radishes mature quickly before beans need full space

Sweet Potato : Sweet potato vines shade bean roots; beans fix nitrogen

Artichoke : Beans fix nitrogen that artichokes appreciate as heavy feeders

Squash : Three Sisters: beans fix nitrogen; squash shades soil

Eggplant : Beans fix nitrogen and repel Colorado potato beetle from eggplant

Sunflower : Beans fix nitrogen; sunflower stalks provide a natural trellis

Melon : Melon shades bean roots; beans fix nitrogen for melon

Pumpkin : Pumpkin shades bean roots; beans fix nitrogen for pumpkin

Rhubarb : Beans fix nitrogen that benefits heavy-feeding rhubarb

Zucchini : Beans fix nitrogen that zucchini uses as a heavy feeder

Swiss Chard : Beans fix nitrogen that chard uses

Celery : Celery benefits from nitrogen fixed by beans

Beet : Complementary root zones; beans fix nitrogen for beets

Cucumber : Beans fix nitrogen; cucumbers shade bean roots

Okra : Beans fix nitrogen that feeds heavy-producing okra plants

Keep Apart

Garlic : Garlic inhibits bean growth

Chives : Chives inhibit bean growth (allium family)

Leek : Beans and leeks inhibit each other's growth — alliums and legumes are antagonistic

Onion : Onions inhibit bean growth through root exudates

Square Foot Spacing

9 per sq ft

4" apart (3×3 grid)

View full spacing chart →

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