Almost all information about plants has been included with the plants in our free app. So, you don't need to remember it. View the MM app
Peulvruchten

How to sow and grow bush beans

This variety produces lots of tender green beans. They grow in bunches of 4 to 5 beans. Harvest when they're about 10 cm long: that's when they're tastiest.
Stambonen van de Makkelijke Moestuin
Bush beans

What are bush beans?

Bush beans are the low, bushy version of the climbing pole beans that grow much taller. Like all beans, they are members of the legume family. 

Originally, the green bean comes from South America. Today, China is the world's largest producer of green beans.

Green beans are also known as string beans or French beans.  Besides the green green bean, there are many other varieties -like our pale yellow butter beans and the long thin Haricots Verts.

Bush beans: full of antioxidants and fiber

These green beans don't have a lot of vitamins and minerals, but do contain lots of carotenes like lutein, beta-carotene, violaxanthin, and neoxanthin.

They work as antioxidants to help prevent inflammation and diseases like type 2 diabetes. Flavonoids in these beans - like quercetin, kaempferol, and catechins - enhance their antioxidant properties even more.

Bush beans are high in fiber, which is good for our gut bacteria. And calories? Hardly any 🙂
Snijbonen, stam- en boterboontjes van de Makkelijke Moestuin
Bush beans, Romano pole, and butter beans

More about our bush beans

This tasty bush bean produces lots of tender green beans in bunches of 4 to 5. Harvest them around 10 cm long: that's when they're tastiest.
  • Species name: Record
  • Family: legume
  • Plants per square patch: 9
  • Height: 40-50 cm and up
  • Sowing time: May and June
  • Sowing depth: 2 to 3 cm
  • Germination time: 21°C in 7-10 days
  • Time to harvest: after 8-9 weeks
  • Sunlight: full sun
Want to buy bush beans? We sell seed bags separately, or, you can get them as part of a seed pack:

What do you need to grow your own bush beans?

Just this:
  • a 30x30 cm patch with airy, nutrient-rich soil mix
  • bush bean seeds
  • a spot with at least 4 hours of sunlight a day
In other words: an MM-Mini, or a square patch in one of our garden boxes, and MM-Mix.

Growing your own bush beans is easy with the MM-Mix. If you grow in low-quality (potting) soil, disappointment is pretty much guaranteed. So don't skimp on soil mix: go for the best.

How do you sow and grow bush beans?

Bush beans are included in the free Planty Gardening app. Use it, and you'll get step-by-step guidance from seed to harvest.

Each plant goes through a number of stages - we call them levels. The app tells you exactly what to do at each level and checks in when your plants are ready for the next.

So you don't need to know how to grow beans before you start: the app takes you through every step.
 
But if you'd like to read more about those steps, here's what the process looks like:

Level 1: Pre-sow bush beans

Beans need a lot of heat to germinate. If it's just a little cold or rainy outside, the seedlings won't sprout or they'll be weak when they do.

So, pre-sow your beans indoors in a pot with equal parts MM-Mix and vermiculite.
Kiem bonen voor op een mengsel van Makkelijke Moestuinmix en voorzaaivermiculiet
Pre-sowing bush beans

Level 2 and 3: Sowing bush beans

As soon as the seedlings are visible, transfer them to a square patch in your vegetable garden box or MM-Mini. 

Here's how:
  • make 9 holes in your patch: 3 to 5 cm deep 
  • scoop the seedlings out of the pot with a spoon
  • plant 1 in each hole
  • carefully cover the holes with soil mix
Now you have a bean patch 🙂 

In a week or so, you should see something come up. It depends a bit on the weather. 

If it's still cold out, you can cover the patch with a crop cover like the MM-Muts or a few plastic containers. These help keep in the heat and keep out birds and snails.
Voorgekiemde bonen planten in de Makkelijke Moestuin
Seedlings ready for planting

Level 4: Caring for your plants

After a week or 2, your seedlings have already become small plants.

They'll grow quite fast in the coming weeks. You don't have to do much about that, nice and easy 🙂 
Opkomende stamboonplantjes Makkelijke Moestuin
Small bean plants

Level 5: Give your plants support with a rack

Give your plants some support with a mini trellis. You can make one easily by bending garden wire fencing into a U-shape and placing it on top of the bean patch.

If you use a MM-mini this is not absolutely necessairy: then it's okay if the plants spill over the sides.

In a few weeks, the first flowers and pods appear. Then it's time for the next level.
Stamboontjes met steunrekje in Makkelijke Moestuin
Bush beans with a support rack

Level 6: Blooming bush beans

Now you'll see beautiful white butterfly flowers. That's where the beans will grow from. 

Sometimes you'll already see your first bean now. 
Bloeiende stamboontjes in een Makkelijke Moestuin mini of Planty
Flowering bush beans

Level 7: Oogst de eerste stambonen

About 8 to 9 weeks after sowing, you can harvest the first beans.

By harvesting early, the plants produce more flowers. More flowers mean more beans.

It's normal for the leaves to turn a little yellow and get uglier, especially around the bottom of the plant.
De eerste Makkelijke Moestuin stambonen zijn klaar om te oogsten
The first bush beans ready for harvesting

How do you use bush beans?

Cut the beans from the plants when they are about 10 cm long. That's when they are really the tastiest. By cutting, you don't damage the plants. 

The most popular way to eat green beans: boil the beans briefly and eat them warm as a side dish. Or you can cool them quickly and add them to cold salads.

Bush beans are great in stir fries too. You can find recipes for bush bean quiches or bread if you feel creative 😉
Kortgekookte Makkelijke Moestuin sperziebonen met knoflook
Boiled bush beans with garlic

The last levels

Keep harvesting your bush beans until there's none left. It takes about 3 weeks. And in that time you harvest a ton of beans.

Once your plants stop producing beans and flowers, it's time for the last level: empty your patch and get ready to sow something new.
Stamboontjes oogsten in de Makkelijke Moestuin
Saskia harvesting bush beans

So, ready to grow your own bush beans?

Bush beans are a fun vegetable to grow and also super healthy. Once the plants get a strong start, growing is a piece of cake.
 
Plus: with our materials and with help from the app, it's practically impossible to fail 😉

Get your bush bean seeds here or get started with a complete starter kit:
Enjoy!
sig.jpg

Get tips & tricks in your inbox

When you sign up, I’ll send you the top 3 things beginners get wrong. And how you can get it right.

We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy

Our perks