How to Grow French Beans at Home | Growing Green Beans

Enjoy a healthy and organic supply of nutritious beans by growing them easily! Here’s everything about How to Grow French Beans at Home!

Healthy and delicious french beans taste amazingly well with chopped potatoes and other spices! Learn How to Grow French Beans at Home and enjoy a fresh harvest!

Botanical Name: Phaseolus vulgaris

Other Name: Green Beans, Common Bean

Here are the best types of beans you can grow in India

---

Best Varieties of French Beans

Choose a bush variety over the climbing ones for growing in containers, as they are easier to manage.  Sonesta, Kenyan bean AGM, and PurpleTeePee are great for pots, but for the vine, go for Algarve AGM and Golden Gate beans.

---

French Beans Growing Season in India

The ideal sowing time for french beans is between spring to early summer, that is, from March to April.

---

Container Size and Type

Go for a pot that is at least 8-10 inches deep. Though, bush varieties can do well in 6-8 inches pots too. Make sure that the container has a drainage hole in the bottom. Go for a terracotta pot.

---

How to Grow French Beans at Home

Steps for Growing French Beans From Seeds

1. Purchase seeds from a local nursery or a garden center, and sow them in a seedling tray or small pot.
2. Sow the seeds one inch deep in a pot filled with seedling starter mix.
3. Mist the soil with water and keep the pot where it gets bright, indirect light.
4. The seeds will sprout within 7-10 days.
5. Once the seedling bears a set of leaves, you can transplant it in an ideal container without disturbing the roots.
6. Remember the mantra of planting one seed per pot for fuss-free planting.
7. Keep the pot in the dappled sun for initial 10 days, and then slowly acclimate it to the full sunlight.

Note: You can also buy a well-grown sapling from a nearby nursery to cut down the harvest time.

---

Growing Requirements for French Beans

Sunlight

French beans do best in full sunlight. The plant can also dwell in partial shade but it will result in fewer beans. A south or west-facing window would be an ideal spot. During the scorching Indian summers, make sure to keep the plant away from the long exposures of the harsh, afternoon sun.

Soil

The plant is known to thrive in a broad range of soil types, but well-draining, aerated soil with 6.2 to 7 pH is best. Since the legume plant already works as nitrogen fixator in the soil, hence it does not require too fertile soil. However, you can amend the soil quality with some compost. Avoid using cow-dung manure, as they are quite high in nitrogen.

Water

Water the plant deeply when the topsoil feels dry to touch. Keep the soil consistently moist during the flowering period. Also, water the plant during the evening or morning hours from the base without spilling on the foliage.

Temperature

10-27 C is the most ideal temperature range for french beans growth. If the temperature exceeds 35 C, it may cause flowers to drop.

---

Caring for French Beans

Fertilizer

Unlike other plants, legume plants do not require much feeding, as they act as nitrogen fixators by enriching the soil quality with nitrogen. Amending the soil with compost or manure prior to planting will be more than enough.

Support

If you have grown a vine variety of french beans, then it will need sturdy support of trellis, fences, or stakes.

Pests and Diseases

The beans are susceptible to black flies, slugs, snails, and aphids, especially during the warmer days. To overcome this problem, use a strong jet of water to knock them off the plants. You can also use neem oil or soap spray solution. Just dip a cotton ball in the solution, and apply it over the infestation area.

---

Harvesting French Beans

The beans are ready to harvest within 45-60 days from planting. Pick them when they are tender and are around 4-6 inches long. It’s advised to harvest the beans frequently, as it promotes more beans production. Do make sure that you are not pulling the beans too strongly from the vine as it will damage the plant.

For long-term storage, first lay the beans on tissue paper and let them dry completely for 2-3 days. Once done, store them in an air-tight container for later use.