How to Grow French Bean
Phaseolus vulgaris
French beans (bush and climbing) are frost-tender and thrive in full sun with fertile, free-draining soil. Sow indoors late spring or direct sow after frost. Provide canes/netting for climbers; bush types need less support. Keep even moisture, especially at flowering and pod set. Pick little and often while pods are slender—this prolongs cropping. Shelter from wind and cold nights, and mulch to hold soil moisture. Unlike runner beans, French beans are self-fertile and set well in warm weather.
When to Start
Start seeds indoors 6 weeks before your last frost date. Transplant outdoors once night temperatures stay above 10°C and soil has warmed to at least 10.5°C.
Don't know your frost date? Find it here →
Growth Stages
Approximate days from start
Care Essentials
- Rarely needed — beans fix nitrogen. Liquid feed once pods start forming if growth is slow.
- Dwarf types are easiest. Climbing types give heavier crops over a longer season.
Growing Conditions
- Min. soil temperature
- 10.5°C+
- Germination temperature
- 15–25°C
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- Direct sow
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Spacing & Planting
| Plant spacing | 12 cm |
| Row spacing | 35 cm |
| Sow depth | 5 cm |
| Mature height | 45 cm |
| Mature spread | 30 cm |
Refers to bush bean varieties. Pole bean varieties should be spaced about 10 cm apart at the base of a support structure.
Pests & Diseases
Pest Black Bean Aphid
Identification: Colonies of small black insects on shoot tips and undersides of leaves
- Fatty acid sprays
- Encourage natural predators
- Water jet removal
- Check harvest intervals for edible crops
Pest Slugs and Snails
Identification: Seedlings eaten to ground level overnight or with large irregular holes; slime trails around plants
- Protect transplants with cloches or copper tape barriers
- Apply organic slug pellets (ferric phosphate)
- Encourage hedgehogs, frogs and ground beetles
- Ferric phosphate-based pellets
Pest Bean Seed Fly
Identification: Seeds fail to emerge or seedlings are stunted and distorted; small white maggots found in seeds or stems at soil level
- Start seeds in modules indoors to avoid the vulnerable germination stage in open soil
- Avoid sowing into freshly manured ground which attracts egg-laying flies
- No chemical controls available for home gardeners
Disease Halo Blight Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola
Symptoms: Dark spots surrounded by a yellow halo on leaves; water-soaked lesions on pods that ooze in wet weather
Treatment: Remove and destroy affected plants. Do not save seed from infected crops
Prevention: Use certified disease-free seed, rotate crops on a 3-year cycle, and avoid working among wet plants
Disease Bean Rust Uromyces appendiculatus
Symptoms: Small, dark brown raised pustules on leaf undersides, with corresponding yellow spots on upper surfaces. Severe infections cause leaf drop and reduced yields.
Treatment: Remove and destroy affected leaves. Improve air circulation between plants.
Prevention: Avoid overhead watering. Space plants well. Rotate crops annually. Choose resistant varieties where available.
Disease Grey Mould (Botrytis) Botrytis cinerea
Symptoms: Fuzzy grey mould on pods, stems and flowers, often starting on damaged tissue or spent flowers
Treatment: Remove and destroy affected parts promptly. Improve ventilation around plants
Prevention: Avoid overcrowding, pick pods regularly, and water at soil level rather than overhead
Growing Conditions
| Min. soil temperature | 10.5°C |
| Germination temperature | 15–25°C |
| Base growth temperature | 10°C |
| Min. daylength to start | 10h |
| Photoperiod sensitivity | day neutral |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How far apart should I plant French Bean?
- Plant French Bean 12cm apart with 35cm between rows.
- Is French Bean frost hardy?
- French Bean is classified as Tender.
