🥕 Bush Bean
Phaseolus vulgaris
vegetables legume
☀️ Sun
Full sun (6–8 hours); tolerates light partial shade but yield decreases
💧 Water
Medium; 1 inch per week consistently; critical during flowering and pod set; avoid overhead watering to prevent fungal diseases (anthracnose, rust)
🗺️ Zones
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
🪴 Soil Type
Moderately fertile, well-drained loam; do NOT over-fertilize with nitrogen — beans fix their own; too much nitrogen produces lush leaves but few pods
🧪 Soil pH
6.0–7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
💧 Drainage
Well-drained; does NOT tolerate waterlogged soil — causes root rot
📏 Spacing
Seeds 2–4 inches apart in rows 18–24 inches apart; thin to 4–6 inches between plants
📅 Days to Maturity
50-65 days (from seed); bush varieties mature faster than pole types
🍴 Edible Parts
🍽️ ["Pods (snap beans \u2014 whole young pod)"🍽️ "Seeds (shelling beans🍽️ dried beans)"]
🤝 Companions (7)
🤝 Corn
Classic 'Three Sisters' guild — beans fix nitrogen that corn heavily consumes; bean vines use corn stalks for support (bush beans less dependent on this but still benefit)
Repels Mexican bean beetle; improves bean flavor and growth; a classic companion known since Roman times
Repels Mexican bean beetle and bean weevils; aromatic oils deter many insect pests
Repels Mexican bean beetle and nematodes; general-purpose pest repellent
Beans repel Colorado potato beetle; potatoes repel Mexican bean beetle — a rare mutual pest-repelling pair
🤝 Squash
Three Sisters guild — squash shades soil, suppresses weeds, and deters predators with prickly stems; beans fix nitrogen for squash
Trap crop for aphids and Mexican bean beetle
⚠️ Keep Apart (3)
⚠️ Alliums (onion, garlic, chives)
Alliums exude antibacterial compounds that inhibit the nitrogen-fixing Rhizobium bacteria beans depend on; can stunt bean growth significantly
Allelopathic — universally antagonistic to most garden plants
⚠️ Beets
Both are heavy feeders; beets may stunt bean growth; conflicting root exudates (some sources say neutral but most advise separation)
💊 Medicinal Uses
["High in soluble fiber (cholesterol-lowering, blood sugar regulation)", "Good source of plant protein, folate, iron, and potassium", "Green beans contain carotenoids (lutein, beta-carotene) supporting eye health", "Traditional: bean pod tea used as a mild diuretic and for diabetes management (contains inositol-related compounds)"]
📝 Notes
Bush beans produce all at once (great for canning/freezing); no trellis needed. Succession plant every 2–3 weeks for continuous harvest. Do NOT soak bean seeds before planting — causes cracking and poor germination. Inoculate seeds with Rhizobium bacteria for better nitrogen fixation in new beds. Rotate legumes every 2–3 years to prevent disease buildup.