How to grow pole bean
Put the trellis up before sowing. Picking every two days keeps pods tender and coming.
Your pole bean dates
Companions
CarrotCucumberMarigoldRadishSweet corn
Keep apart from
Rotation and family
Pole bean belongs to the legumes (Fabaceae). Host nitrogen-fixing Rhizobium bacteria in root nodules.
In a four-bed crop rotation it goes in the legume bed. Avoid growing it where any legumes grew in the last three years.
When to plant pole bean by zone
| Zone | Sow / plant out |
|---|---|
| 3 | May 27 – Jun 17 |
| 4 | May 19 – Jun 9 |
| 5 | May 7 – May 28 |
| 6 | Apr 27 – May 18 |
| 7 | Apr 15 – May 6 |
| 8 | Apr 2 – Apr 23 |
| 9 | Mar 1 – Mar 22 |
| 10 | Feb 8 – Mar 1 |
Based on typical frost dates for each zone; b half-zones run about a week earlier in spring. Zones 11–13 are frost-free in most years.
Pole bean questions
When should I plant pole bean?
Plant pole bean outdoors 1 week after your last spring frost.
How far apart should I plant pole bean?
About 4 inches apart, or 8 per square foot in a square foot garden.
What grows well with pole bean?
Traditional companions include carrot, cucumber, marigold, radish, sweet corn. Keep it away from beet, cabbage, garlic, onion, sunflower.
How long does pole bean take to grow?
Typically 60–70 days from sowing to first harvest, depending on variety and weather.