Green Bean
Snap Bean, String Bean, Bush Bean, Pole Bean, Runner Bean, Common Bean
Direct sow after last frost — beans resent transplanting. Bush types produce all at once (good for preserving); pole types produce continuously for 6–8 weeks. Fix nitrogen in soil — don't overfertilize. Harvest when pods are firm but before seeds bulge. Avoid working around plants when wet.
- Germination
- 7–14 days
- Soil temperature
- 16–29 °C
- Harvest after sowing
- 50–65 days
- Spacing
- 10–15 cm
When to plant green bean
Sow outdoors from your last spring frost to 2 weeks after it.
Dashed line: typical last spring frost in zone 7 (Apr 5). Zone dates are averages; most of the UK is zone 8–9, central Europe 6–7 and the Baltics and Scandinavia 4–6. In the app, Tomatograph uses your garden's own frost dates.
How to grow green bean
- 1
Wait for warm soil
Beans rot in cold, wet soil, so sow after the last frost once the soil is above 16 °C. Sow 2.5–5 cm deep and 10–15 cm apart; beans dislike transplanting.
- 2
Choose a type
Bush beans crop all at once, about 50–60 days from sowing, which suits preserving. Climbing beans need poles but pick for 6–8 weeks.
- 3
Grow on
Beans fix their own nitrogen, so skip rich feeds. Keep away from plants when the leaves are wet to avoid spreading disease.
- 4
Harvest
Pick pods while they snap crisply and before the seeds bulge. Sow again every 2–3 weeks for a steady supply.
Growing conditions
Light
Full sun
Water
Medium water
Temperature
10–32 °C
Frost tolerance
Frost-sensitive — protect below 0 °C
Days to maturity
55 days
Plant spacing
15 cm
Ideal soil pH
6.5–7
How Tomatograph watches your green bean
Tomatograph checks your local forecast every morning and only speaks up when one of these applies to your garden.
- Forecast of 2 °C or lowerFrost alert the evening before: cover plants with fleece or bring pots inside.
- 3 days at 35 °C or aboveHeat-wave alert while plants are flowering or fruiting: shade and water early.
- Humidity above 80% for 48 hoursCheck for root rot, which thrives in those conditions.
- Within a week of maturityHarvest-window reminder based on when you planted.
Green Bean questions
- When should I plant green bean?
- Sow outdoors from your last spring frost to 2 weeks after it.
- How long do green bean seeds take to germinate?
- Usually 7–14 days at a soil temperature of 16–29 °C.
- How long until I can harvest green bean?
- About 50–65 days after sowing, depending on variety and weather.
- How far apart should I plant green bean?
- Allow 10–15 cm between plants.
- What grows well with green bean?
- Good neighbours include carrot, corn, cucumber, radish.
Growing guide written by Tomatograph. Planting figures from openplantdb (CC0 1.0). Zone frost dates are averages from openplantdb (CC0 1.0).