Botanical Name: Phaseolus vulgaris
Days to Maturity: 45–55 days
Family: Fabaceae
Native: Mexico and South America
Hardiness: Frost-sensitive annual
Plant Dimensions: Upright, compact, 12"–22" tall
Variety Information: 5"–6" long, green, bright yellow or deep purple pods. 'BLUE LAKE 274' is an heirloom, producing round, 6" pods with exceptional flavor and tenderness; the best green bean variety for freezing. Stringless when picked young. Plants are resistant to common bean mosaic virus (1, NY15). 'RESISTANT CHEROKEE WAX' is a 1959 improvement on the original 'Cherokee Wax'. Bright yellow pods conceal black seeds! Stringless in all stages; excellent for canning or freezing. 'ROYAL BURGUNDY' has deep purple, slightly curved, tender pods that turn dark green when cooked.
Type: Snap bean
When to Sow Outside: RECOMMENDED. 1 to 2 weeks after your average last frost date, and when soil temperature is at least 65°F, ideally 70°–85°F. Successive Sowings: Every 7 to 14 days up to 80 days before your average first fall frost date. NOTE: In very hot summer areas, skip sowing as high heat approaches; temperatures consistently above 90°F will prevent beans from forming.
When to Start Inside: Not recommended
Days to Emerge: 6–12 days
Seed Depth: 1"
Seed Spacing: 1 seed every 4"
Row Spacing: 24"
Thinning: Not required
Harvesting: Snap beans are ready to pick when the pod "snaps" or breaks in half cleanly. This is when the seeds have just begun to form and the pods are several inches long (depending on the variety). Hold the stem with one hand, and the pod with the other hand to avoid pulling off branches, which will continue to produce. At season's end, plants are great compost material if they are disease-free.
Because bush beans were developed from pole beans (for condensed and easier harvests), sometimes they can revert to some of the traits of their predecessors by stretching and getting a little lanky before settling into more of a compact bush habit. Thus, why your bush bean appears to be a pole bean.
Cover Crop for a Naturally Better GardenBean: Sow and Grow Guide
