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How to plant beans in a pot


How to Grow Beans In Pots - 7 Tips for a Bountiful Harvest

Beans, whether bush or pole, don’t require a lot of soil and tend to grow very well in confined spaces. Learn how to grow beans in pots with these seven tips.

Beans are a popular crop in backyard gardens but are often overlooked for use in container gardens.

This is a shame considering how easy these plants are to grow in just about any situation.

Today, we’ll show you how to grow beans in pots and give you seven tips to ensure a successful harvest. We’ll also look at the best types of beans to grow in containers and solutions to some common problems you may run into.

What Are the Best Types of Beans to Grow in Pots?

There are two main varieties of beans: bush beans and pole beans. Most types of beans are available in either variety.

Bush Beans

Bush beans grow on strong stems and reach a maximum height of about two feet tall. They do not require trellising or support and take on a bushy shape as they mature. This variety tends to start producing in about six weeks and is usually done making beans a few weeks later.

“Provider” Bush Beans | Photo courtesy of Johnny’s Selected Seeds

Because of their short stature and short growing season, bush beans are a great choice for use in shallow pots and for growing northern climates.

Bush beans only require about 7 inches of soil to grow. And because they aren’t vining like pole beans, they require very little maintenance. The fact that the beans mature all at once also means less time spent harvesting and caring for the plants.

Pole Beans

Pole beans, on the other hand, are vining plants that require support and something to crawl up as they mature. They take two to three months to start producing beans but keep producing throughout the season. The more often you harvest your pole beans, the bigger your total harvest will be.

“Northeaster” Pole Beans | Photo courtesy Johnny’s Selected Seeds

These types of beans have deeper root systems that require at least 9 inches of soil. Because they grow so tall, they also need heavier, more substantial pots and protection from the wind.

Pole beans are great for container gardeners with a little extra space to spare who have longer growing seasons and want a continual harvest throughout the summer.

Which type of bean to grow in your pots depends largely on the size of pots available, the length of your growing season, and how much continual care you are able to provide. For most gardeners, though, growing either (or both!) is an option.

7 Tips for Growing Beans In Pots

Whatever beans you choose to grow, there are a few things you can do to ensure success. Here are our seven tips to grow prolific beans in containers.

1. Pick the Perfect Location

Beans need a good amount of sun to produce well. Look for a spot that gets at least eight hours of sunlight each day. If a location this sunny is difficult to come by, look for a variety of pole bean that is more shade tolerant. These will do well with as little as six hours of sunlight each day.

Wind and heat are two other factors to consider when deciding where to place your bean container garden.

Pole beans grow tall and are easily blown over. Choosing a spot that is well-sheltered from gusts is a must.

All bean varieties need warmth to germinate. Placing pots against south-facing walls will help increase the soil temperature while the seeds germinate. Once the sprouts mature and the weather warms up, moving the pots to a slightly cooler but equally sunny spot can help avoid wilting.

2. Pick the Right Pot

Beans have shallow roots compared to many other vegetables, which means it is possible to grow them in smaller pots.

Bush beans only need pots about 6 inches deep, while pole beans need closer to 9 inches. Since pole beans grow so tall, it is important to choose a heavy, wide pot that is less likely to blow over. You can also situate pots next to deck railings and secure them to avoid them blowing around.

In larger pots—those ten inches wide and at least ten inches deep—is possible to grow more than one bean plant. Bush beans need a little more space, at least 6 inches between plants, while pole beans only need about 4 inches between plants.

Just as important as the size of the pot is the drainage. Make sure your pot has at least three drainage holes. Beans like damp soil but do not tolerate over-saturated dirt very well.

3. Prepare the Soil

Beans are not overly picky about what they grow in. Like all legumes, they fix their own nitrogen and are better able to grow in low-nutrient conditions than other plants.

Still, to maximize your harvest and make caring for your plants easier, it is a good idea to start the season with quality, fresh potting soil.

Unlike traditional garden soil, potting soil contains vermiculite or perlite. Both substances are great for retaining moisture and controlling the release of nutrients. These features are important in pots since the low soil volume is at risk for drying out and having nutrients rinsed away.

Fill your pots with a quality, organic potting soil at the beginning of the season. Once your beans have died off for the year, you can repurpose the soil in your garden beds to put all that legume-fixed nitrogen to use.

4. Sow As the Weather Warms

Beans are warm-season plants, which means they require warm soil to germinate. They are also less tolerant of cold weather and frost than other legumes such as snap peas.

When growing beans in pots, you have a couple of options in how and when to sow your bean seeds.

To extend your season—something that is important if you experience short summers—bring your pots inside to sow your seeds. Put them in a warm spot and allow the soil to warm up before planting. Once the weather has warmed up and the threat of frost has passed, move your mature seedlings outside into a warm spot.

Your other option is to wait until the average outdoor temperature is over 60 degrees. Place your pots in a warm, sunny location and direct sow the seeds into them.

Typically, bean seeds are planted one inch below the soil level, but be sure to reference the directions that come with your seed packet for specific requirements.  

5. Water Consistently and Feed Monthly

Consistent watering is important for maximum yield. Check your soil daily by pushing your finger into the pot. Water once the top inch or two of soil is dry to the touch. As long as your pots drain well, you should not have to worry too much about over-watering

Once the plants begin to flower, it is especially important to keep the soil constantly moist. If the plants get too dry, they will drop flowers.

As for fertilizer, beans will do well with a monthly application of liquid or granular fertilizer. Look for a product with a lower nitrogen concentration since beans can fix their own nitrogen and since too much of this nutrient will reduce pod production.

6. Maintain Plants As Needed

Beans are fairly easy keepers and do not require a lot of attention.

If you are growing pole beans, you will have to provide a lattice or support for them to climb. They typically climb well on their own, but it is still a good idea to check on their progress and train the vines as needed.

7. Harvest When Beans Reach Full Size

Bush beans will begin producing their bounty all at once, with the harvesting period typically only lasting two weeks. Some varieties, however, may continue to produce for a month or more, especially if mature pods are picked regularly.

Pole beans will produce continuously throughout the growing season. You can encourage more prolific production by harvesting pods as soon as they have reached full size.

Most beans are ready for picking once they reach about four inches in length. However, there are many different varieties, some smaller and some larger, so make sure to reference your seed package for specific directions.

Continue harvesting regularly until the plant stops producing flowers or the weather cools. Once the first frost hits, bean plants will die. If your plants are still producing when the weather turns, you can bring them inside and place them in a sunny, south-facing window to extend the season.

If you do not have a sunny spot in the house, you may want to consider getting some quality grow lights like these from Spider Farmer.

Common Problems You Might Face

Beans, especially bush beans, are fairly tough. But there are a few pests known to feed on these legumes and some common diseases to be aware of before you start your bean container garden.

More Container-Loving Crops

Beans aren’t the only vegetables that are easy to grow in pots. Here are a few more plants to consider adding to your veggie container garden.

Not satisfied yet? Here are the ten easiest vegetables to grow in pots.

How To Care For Potted Bean Plants

Home › Edible Gardens › Vegetables › Beans

Beans

By: Bonnie L. Grant, Certified Urban Agriculturist

Image by ArtCookStudio

Beans may be vined or bushy and come in several sizes and colors. They are primarily a warm season vegetable that is best grown in spring but can also be started for a late summer harvest in some temperate zones. Gardeners with small spaces can learn how to grow beans in pots. Growing beans in containers is also useful for early starting where soil temperatures remain too cool for in-ground potting. These plants will need to be brought indoors at night to protect them from possible freezing temperatures.

Container Size for Growing Beans

The depth of the container size for growing beans varies dependent upon the type of vegetable. Pole beans need 8 to 9 inches (20-23 cm.) of soil, whereas bush beans can do with only 6 to 7 inches (15-18 cm. ).

Ensure that the pot has several unobstructed drainage holes when growing beans in containers. While the appearance of the pot isn’t important, using unglazed pots will help the containers to “breathe” and allow for the evaporation of excess water so the plants don’t drown.

The number of plants you can sow in a container depends on the diameter of the pot. As a rule, plan on nine plants for every 12 inches (30 cm.) of surface space.

Use a seed variety that produces well in container gardening such as Kentucky Wonder, Blue Lake pole or Topcrop.

How to Grow Beans in Pots

Whenever you are growing beans in containers, the most important components to consider in the successful care for potted bean plants are the soil type, drainage, pot depth and ambient conditions.

Fill your container with the proper potting mix for beans and other vegetables. You can purchase a vegetable start mix or make your own. Use equal parts sphagnum moss or compost with pasteurized soil and vermiculite or perlite.

Incorporate vegetable fertilizer or manure prior to planting. You can also use a soilless medium as a potting mix for beans. Plant the seeds an inch (2.5 cm.) deep and provide even moisture until the seeds germinate. Space the seeds 3 inches (7.6 cm.) apart or plant two to three seeds around each pole for vining varieties.

Care for Potted Bean Plants

Your bean seeds will germinate in five to eight days. Once they have pushed up, spread mulch lightly over the surface of the soil to help conserve moisture. Bean plants need plenty of water, and this is especially true with the care of potted bean plants. You need to provide irrigation when the top 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.6 cm.) of soil is dry to the touch.

Fertilize once a month with a diluted liquid vegetable fertilizer unless you mixed a time-release food into the soil medium.

Provide pole beans with a long stick or pole to climb up. Alternatively, insert a tomato cage into the container for the vegetables to twine around. Bush beans need no special support.

Watch for insects and other pests and combat with vegetable-friendly products such as horticultural soap or neem oil.

Growing beans in containers should provide you with edible pods in 45 to 65 days when grown in full sun. Harvest the beans when the pods are medium sized with firm pods. Use them fresh for the best taste, or you can freeze or can them to enjoy far past the season.

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How to grow beans at home, sprouting seedlings, plant care features

You do not have a plot or it is small, there is not enough space in the beds for all your favorite crops - this is not a problem. There are vegetables that can be grown on the balcony and even on the windowsill. One of them is beans. The flowers of this plant are self-pollinating, that is, the help of insects or artificial pollination is not required. The root system is not too powerful, an ordinary flower pot is enough for one bush. It is enough just to sow and create the conditions necessary for the beans in order to harvest the first crop in 50-60 days.

Content

Is it possible to create conditions suitable for beans at home? The favorite plant for decorating the balcony was the climbing bean, which bloomed with fiery red flowers.

It was sown in standard balcony boxes about 20 cm deep and wide and up to 50 cm long. 10 beans were placed in two such boxes. It was back in Soviet times, so they didn’t know about any ready-made soils from the store. They collected earth in the yard from a pile brought for flower beds. They didn’t change it in boxes for years, didn’t feed or fertilize it with anything.

Red-flowered beans grow well on the balcony, they do not need a large amount of land and special care. All stems were covered with flowers, and then with pods. It was normal for me back then. But today I wonder how this heat-loving culture could grow in such Spartan conditions. Perhaps, indeed, all of its species are so unpretentious that they can grow not only in the garden, but also on the balcony, and even on the windowsill.

Video: experience of growing beans on a balcony

Optimal conditions for the development of beans:

  1. The soil is sandy or loamy, warmed up to +12… +15 ⁰C.
  2. Air temperature: +20… +25 ⁰C.
  3. Lighting - intense solar.
  4. The length of the day before fruiting is 10–12 hours.

The last point needs clarification, understanding and applying which you can get maximum bean yields anywhere. Culture refers to plants of short daylight hours. For the laying of generative organs, that is, flower buds, 10–12 hours of illumination is necessary. If you provide your plants with exactly this length of day from the moment of germination to the beginning of flowering, you will get earlier and more abundant fruiting. During the period when the beans are already making you happy with the harvest, this parameter does not really matter.

From germination to flowering, it is desirable to keep the beans under 10-12 hours of daylight, the lighting should be intense

Choice of variety

It is believed that bush varieties of asparagus beans bear fruit as well as possible in an apartment. Choose the most early and fruitful:

Asparagus beans are low in calories (40 calories per 100 g of product), contain vitamins C and B, as well as carotene and zinc.

Climbing beans will create shade with their vines, so buy ones that aren't too climbing. After all, there is not so much space in the room and on the balcony as in the open area.

There are varieties whose stems do not grow longer than 2-3 meters:

But even tall creepers can be pinched at the height you need. This procedure is absolutely safe, moreover, it will speed up fruiting.

There is an opinion that bush beans grow best indoors

If you decide to grow beans at home and want to get a positive result the first time, then buy several varieties and sow 2-3 seeds of each. So you will understand by experience which beans are best for you.

Sowing date when growing on a windowsill and a balcony

The length of the day required for growing beans is observed from about mid-February to mid-March. This means that for growing on a windowsill, seeds can be soaked as early as February. It is still cold on the balcony at this time, postpone sowing until mid-May, and if it is not glazed, then until the end of May. Beans are afraid of frost.

Video: the result of sowing beans in October

You can combine two cultivation options:

Container and soil for beans

Beans grow from large seeds and very quickly, so sow them immediately in a permanent container, grow without picks. Each plant will require a minimum of 3-5 liters of soil. Can be planted in a common box or individual pots at least 20 cm deep. In a cramped container, you will need to water and feed the bushes often, but they will still grow weak and barren.

Thickened plantings of beans need to be watered and fed more often

Pots and boxes must have drainage holes. If they are not there, pour expanded clay on the bottom with a layer of 2–3 cm. You can buy soil at the store. Suitable universal for seedlings of vegetable crops. If desired, make up your soil mix:

Video: how to prepare the soil mixture

Seed preparation and sowing

Pre-sowing treatment of bean seeds consists of the following steps:

  1. Soak bean seeds overnight in water at room temperature. Growth stimulants can be added:
  2. Then take them out of the water and wrap them in a damp cloth.
  3. Keep in a warm room (+25 ⁰C) until germination. Unwrap every day and check for sprouts.
  4. As soon as sprouts appear, immediately start sowing, do not allow roots to grow and stretch.

    Do not overexpose the seeds to germinate, sow as soon as small rudimentary roots appear

Seeds of even the same variety do not germinate at the same time. Therefore, when growing without picks, it is better to choose an individual container and sow each seed in its own pot and on the day it sprouted, without waiting for the others to germinate.

Sowing beans:

  1. Fill the container with soil so that there is still 5–6 cm left to the brim.
  2. Water well. If the soil mixture has sagged, add to the desired level and water again.
  3. Arrange the germinated seeds: one per pot or 15–20 cm apart in a box. The spines must point downwards.

    When planting, the seed should be positioned so that the root is pointing down

  4. Cover the top with earth in a layer of 3-4 cm and lightly compact it. Watering is no longer needed.
  5. Cover with film or glass.
  6. Keep in a warm place until emergence.

Optimal light conditions

Beans like bright sun, but not for long periods of time. If you grow on a windowsill in winter, then place the plants on the southern, sunniest and warmest window. On cloudy days, as well as on windows of a different orientation, illuminate with a phytolamp. In late spring and summer, keep seedlings in an east or west window to create the effect of a short day.

Video: how to place a phytolamp correctly

To get the maximum yield in summer, try to artificially reduce the daylight hours for young still growing bushes: cover them with opaque materials from 20.00 to 8.00. Conduct an experiment: grow part of the bushes of the same variety with the same care with a short day, the rest - in natural sunlight. Compare the results and draw conclusions: is the difference in yield worth the additional labor costs.

Caring for beans at home

If in an open area the beans can find moisture and nutrition for themselves, for example, get everything they need from different soil layers, “get drunk” with rain, then in a pot or box it completely depends on you. A small amount of land dries out quickly, especially if the beans are on the balcony, in the open air. Nutrients that are available in the ground at the time of planting run out quickly.

Water the beans when the topsoil dries out. On the balcony, be guided by the weather. On hot days, two waterings per day may be necessary. Protect from heavy rains, prevent the risk of soil being washed out of pots and standing water at the roots. To do this, place the boxes of beans inside the balcony so that they are under the roof.

Beans in an open box need to be watered more often

Give the first top dressing when the true leaves appear. Then repeat them every 2 weeks. In the growth stage, nitrogen fertilizers are needed. However, the use of infusions of mullein, droppings and weeds is unacceptable for the home. An unpleasant smell can attract flies and provoke conflict with neighbors. It is also undesirable to feed beans with mineral fertilizers. You can periodically add humus with a layer of 1-2 cm and mix with the soil.

I recommend feeding with horse manure extract from the moment the first leaves appear until flowering. It has no smell. Last summer I was puzzled by the search for this fertilizer for my garden. Our house with a plot is located on the outskirts of a large city, so finding real horse manure is a problem. I asked my husband to take me to the equestrian club. He found a simpler solution - he brought me to Leroy Merlin and showed me a bottle of horse manure extract. Bought one to try.

Horse manure extract - odorless natural fertilizer, excellent for plant nutrition on the windowsill and balcony

At home, she opened it and began to smell it intensively to check the authenticity. But there was no smell at all. I didn’t want to believe that they bought a fake, so I began to search the Internet for reviews about this fertilizer. It turned out that I was incredibly lucky. Horse manure extract is sought after by many lovers of indoor floriculture. Perhaps this is one of the few organic fertilizers that is suitable for indoor use due to the lack of smell.

From the moment the buds appear until the end of the growing season, replace nitrogen fertilizers with potash fertilizers with the addition of trace elements. Wood ash is ideal. Powder it on the ground under the plants (1-2 tablespoons), loosen and water. If the bean bushes are unstable, tie them to pegs. For climbing varieties, build trellises using twine, plastic netting, decorative supports for indoor vines, etc.

Video: how beans grow on the windowsill

Asparagus beans can be harvested 2 weeks after the end of flowering. Harvest the still tender and juicy pods. And on grain varieties, the beans need to be allowed to ripen. The lower pods are the first to sing, while their valves become hard and yellow. Harvest beans as they ripen, do not let ready-to-pick fruits hang too much time on the bushes. The sooner you pick them, the faster the next ones will grow and ripen.

Beans are an unpretentious plant that even a child can grow at home. Bushes are able to develop even in tight containers and in poor lighting. But if you try and create the appropriate conditions for this crop, you will get a harvest no less rich than when grown in open ground. The main thing is to provide the beans with a sufficient amount of land, ensure the correct light regime, water and feed on time.