Growing Warm Season Beans in Phoenix

BEST TIME TO PLANT: Early spring once the soil has warmed, and mid-summer to late summer.

WARM SEASON BEAN VARIETIES: Black-eyed peas, Butter Beans, Green beans & Wax beans, Lima beans, Pinto beans, Scarlet Runner beans, Soybeans (Edamame), Tepary beans, Yard-long beans (Asparagus beans). Provide support for runner beans & pole beans.

SUN: 6-8 hours of direct sun, minimum. In less sun, production will be diminished.

SOIL: Should be well prepared with plenty of organic matter added to it.

PLANT SPACING: Follow instructions on seed packet – spacing varies by variety.

WATERING: Keep top inch or two of soil moist until seedlings emerge. Once plants are established, water deeply & thoroughly so water penetrates to a depth of 8” to 10”. Allow the top inch of soil to become between damp & dry before watering again, deeply and thoroughly.

FERTILIZING: Fertilize once, when the beans have bloomed, and pods are beginning to form.

HARVESTING: Keep green beans & wax beans picked, & pick before seeds begin to mature. Keeping plants picked promotes production.

ONCE THE HARVEST IS OVER: Cut plants off at the ground and leave the roots in the garden. Bean roots fix nitrogen and improve soil fertility.

SUPPLIERS OF BEAN SEED & SEED INOCULANT:

Johnny’s Seeds – johnnyseeds.com (seed & seed inoculant)

Native Seeds Search – nativeseeds.org (very cool Southwestern heirloom bean seed)

Vermont Bean Seed Company – vermontbean.com (seeds & inoculant)

For more detailed information about growing beans, see the article,

“Tips for Growing Beans” in:

[This page was last updated on April 2, 2011]

GregorysGardeningGuide.com/Tips/Growing Beans in Phoenix