Beans

There are plenty of Bean varieties to choose from too, including bush or dwarf Beans (that don’t require staking), Snake Beans, and yummy Butter Beans. Broad Beans are a great choice too, but they have a longer maturing time (18-25 weeks) and due to their size, are best in garden beds.

While Beans are available in many different varieties, they are largely categorised into two types: dwarf or climbing.

Climbing Beans, like Snake Beans, Purple King and Stringless Blue Lake need room to spread, so will need to be planted out in the garden. 

If you don’t have the space, look for compact varieties, like Broad Beans Coles Prolific or dwarf aka bush Beans, such as Dwarf Brown Beauty, Dwarf Hawkesbury Wonder or Dwarf Bountiful Butter – they’re perfect for large pots. For a bit of colour try Dwarf Borlotti - beans can be eaten fresh when young or left on the plant for seeds to mature then used for cooking.

Dwarf or bush Beans produce their entire crop at once (like determinate Tomatoes), while climbing Beans produce all throughout the season. It’s a good idea to make successive sowings of both varieties to help extend the harvest window. Alternatively, sow bush Beans first and then sow a crop of climbing Beans.

Beans grow all across Australia. In both tropical and subtropical climates, most Beans can be sown all year round, however, it’s best to limit sowing to the cooler months of the year as Beans often languish in the summer heat. In temperate and cool regions, Beans can be sown from spring through to mid-late summer. The exception to this is the broad Bean, which should be sown from autumn to winter in all climates. Sow Bean seeds direct where they are to grow. They don’t tolerate transplanting well, so sow direct into pots or garden beds instead of seedling trays or punnets.

Choose a spot in full sun with at least 6-8 hours a day.

Beans prefer rich, well-drained soils. Prior to planting, spread Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser over the soil and dig in well. If growing in pots, choose a pot at least 40 cm wide and deep and fill with Yates Premium Potting Mix.

When flowers appear, feed regularly throughout the season with Yates Thrive Flower & Fruit Soluble Plant Food. It’s a fast-acting soluble fertiliser that’s boosted with extra potassium to encourage lots of flowers and Beans.

After sowing, water in well, but avoid watering again until seeds have germinated. Once seedlings appear, water regularly to keep the soil moist. If needed, thin seedlings to allow for proper spacing between plants. Avoid watering the leaves as moisture sitting on the leaves leads to fungal problems. Spread a layer of organic mulch over the soil to help conserve soil moisture and suppress weeds.

For climbing Beans, install a sturdy support system – bamboo stakes fashioned into an A-frame or tepee, wire mesh or similar – for the vines to climb. Broad Beans also require staking for support. Even though they grow to 1 m, their stems often become weighed down with pods. While there is no need to stake dwarf varieties, if the crop is heavy with Beans, ‘hill’ or pile the soil up around the base of the plants for support.

Whiteflies and Aphids are common, small, sap-sucking pests of Beans. Whiteflies fly away quickly when disturbed, while aphids generally remain on the plant and are often accompanied by Ants. Treat them with Baythroid Advanced Garden Pest Insect Killer Ready to Use Spray. Spray the foliage thoroughly, including the undersides. Repeat spray as required.

Snails and Slugs also find Beans attractive, especially the young leaves and stems. Protect seedlings from snails and slugs with Yates Snail and Slug Bait.

Beans are susceptible to diseases like Blight, Rust and Powdery Mildew. Help reduce the likelihood of diseases by spacing plants adequately to allow for light and air flow. Avoid watering the leaves and minimise water splash. You can also apply Yates Tomato and Vegetable Dust throughout the season to help prevent and control these diseases.

Most Beans are generally ready for harvest 8-10 weeks from sowing (broad Beans can take between 18-25 weeks*). Look for young, tender pods and pick early in the morning. Harvest regularly to encourage new flowers and pods.

*Broad Beans can flower for a while before pods start to set. If low temperatures are experienced in early spring, some bud drop may occur. This is natural and new flowers will quickly follow.

Dwarf Bean 'Borlotti' can be picked and eaten fresh when young or left on the vine to mature and dry (for use in stews and soups). Once ready, harvest and store the seeds in an air-tight container.

The great thing about Beans is that they are part of the legume family and ‘fix’ or capture nitrogen from the atmosphere. When your plants are done for the season, dig them out and add to the compost heap, or, cut them down and dig them into the garden bed to enrich the soil.

Before planting, take a little time to plan your garden. Ensure you have adequate space as climbing varieties require staking or a trellis, while dwarf or compact forms grow into small bushes.

1. Choose a spot in full sun and well-drained soil. Dig Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser into the soil and fork in well.
2. Sow seeds and water in well. Avoid watering again until seeds have germinated. Depending on the variety, seeds should be sown around 7-10 cm apart and 2.5 cm deep. It’s a good idea to set up a trellis or support system now to avoid damaging roots later.
3. Mulch around the base of plants with an organic mulch like sugarcane or pea straw to help keep the soil cool and suppress weeds.
4. Apply a soluble plant food, such as Yates Thrive Flower & Fruit Soluble Plant Food when flowering starts.
5. Make successive sowings every few weeks to help extend the harvest window.

For pots, it’s best to plant dwarf or bush Beans, such as Hawkesbury Wonder or Gourmet’s Delight.

1. Choose pots or troughs that are at least 40 cm wide and deep.
2. Position in full sun. Fill pot with a quality mix, like Yates Premium Potting Mix. Sow 3-4 seeds and water in well. Avoid watering again until seeds have germinated.
3. Mulch around the base of plants with an organic mulch like sugarcane or pea straw to help keep the soil cool and suppress weeds.
4. Apply a soluble plant food, such as Yates Thrive Flower & Fruit Soluble Plant Food when flowering starts.
5. Make successive sowings every few weeks to help extend the harvest window.