Bush Beans vs. Pole Beans

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stephanietx Fort Worth, TX(Zone 8a) Apr 11, 2009

What is the difference?

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eweed Everson, WA(Zone 8a) Apr 11, 2009

Bush beans have a tendacy to come on all at once with a short flowering season. Pole beans make beans for a longer period of time if kept picked and watered. Just remember if you pick bush beans be prepared to bend over to pick them.

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stephanietx Fort Worth, TX(Zone 8a) Apr 11, 2009

So, bush beans have a shorter growing season than pole beans? Do they need support/trellising like pole beans? (Can you tell I'm totally new to beans?!? LOL)

We have raised beds (about 18" high) so we don't have to bend over too far to pick.

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locakelly Phoenix, AZ(Zone 9a) Apr 11, 2009

You could say technically they have a shorter season as you get most of your harvest at once with bush beans. Pole beans will keep producing if you keep picking them and watering them as eweed said. In my experience, I have never had to support bush beans - they support themselves:) Beans are very easy to grow as long as you wait to plant them when your soil is warm. Plant them too early in cold soil and they will most likely rot (the seeds). Looking at your zone, it's should be safe to plant them now if you haven't already. I have had mine in the garden for a month or longer now already here in Phoenix. Kelly

P.S. You can plant bush beans in succession to have a continual harvest throughout the growing season. For example, plant your initial crop and a week or two later plant another crop and so on. Pole beans you only need one planting. Hope this helps!!

This message was edited Apr 11, 2009 10:30 AM

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stephanietx Fort Worth, TX(Zone 8a) Apr 11, 2009

Thank you both! You've been most helpful. :) We got some seeds for both pole and bush beans today, so we'll begin planting Monday. Big rains coming our way and we don't want the seeds to drown.

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feldon30 Houston, TX(Zone 9a) Apr 12, 2009

Bush beans are self-supporting little 18" - 24" "bushes". They might lean into each other a bit but they do not need any kind of support.

Pole beans grow 7-10 feet tall and need a good structure to climb, whether it's tee-pees, a trellis, etc.

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