Growing Beans - dwarf, also French beans, Bush beans

Phaseolus vulgaris : Fabaceae / the pea or legume family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
P                 P P P

(Best months for growing Beans - dwarf in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 61°F and 86°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 2 - 6 inches apart
  • Harvest in 7-10 weeks. Pick often to encourage more flower production.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Sweetcorn, spinach, lettuce, summer savory, dill, carrots, brassicas, beets, radish, strawberry and cucumbers, tagates minuta (wild marigold)
  • Avoid growing close to: Alliums (Chives, leek, garlic, onions) Sunflower

Your comments and tips

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23 Aug 10, Chris@Gardenate (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Lorna, we will be adding photos to gardenate.com later this year - maybe that will help in the future.
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23 Aug 10, Jonathan (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I'm sure you would have thought of this, but if you use pea straw as mulch you may get peas...
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23 Aug 10, (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
You do get peas. I had a very nice crop starting until the frost killed them all!
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18 Apr 10, Heck (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have planted dwarf beans for the third time and once again as they reach a height of about 20 cm the stalks go brown and become very soft and the leaves turn yellow and the plant falls over and karks it. I don't think I'm over watering them but we have had a lot of rain of late. I need help please
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28 Apr 10, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Maybe bean fly (see comment below from brian)
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27 Apr 10, (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
It sounds like too much water. Are you growing them in a raised bed to improve drainage?
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17 Apr 10, brian palfreyman (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Soon after the bean sprouts comes out of the ground they need to be sprayed against the bean fly which stings the newly exposed stalk and lays eggs in the stalk and a grub developes which eats the inside of the stalk and the plant dies I spray mine as soon as the bean emerges from the ground and get a good crop,if I forget to spray them I loose them
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22 May 10, dan (Australia - tropical climate)
can you tell me the name of the spray to use as we have the same problem.
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21 Mar 10, Diane (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My bean plants were also growing very well, they flowered and produced a few beans but now the leaf ends are going brown and look burned (just like Hellbelle 11 Feb post). I would appreciate some feedback about possilbe causes.
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21 Mar 10, george (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Can anyone help I have tried twice to get my dwarf beans going but by the time they rreach 6 leaf stage they are being eaten by something. or may be sucked by something.
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Showing 131 - 140 of 156 comments
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I have the same question do I need to use stakes or some other form of support ?

- steven

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. GardenGrow is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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