You can grow bush beans on the windowsill or in the greenhouse without much effort. Read here what needs to be considered.

In a nutshell

  • Can be grown in the greenhouse, on the windowsill or in the cold frame
  • warm location with high humidity
  • Potting soil and pots are required
  • Soaking seeds in water speeds up germination

Why prefer bush beans?

Bush beans (Phaseolus vulgaris var. Nanus) can usually be sown directly in the vegetable patch until mid-July. Although this requires less work and time, the seedlings are directly exposed to the weather. Unfavorable weather conditions can not only have an unfavorable effect on germination, but also on the vitality of the plants. To avoid this, many hobby gardeners rely on preferring the French beans. On top of that, the following advantages speak in favor of this measure:

  • earlier harvest
  • prevents bean fly infestation
  • less susceptible to snail damage
  • Young plants are more robust and resilient
  • higher crop yields possible

time

You can generally prefer bush beans from March. The exact time depends on the ambient temperature: In heated rooms with temperatures above 20 degrees, sowing is possible from the beginning of March. However, sowing in unheated rooms is recommended from the end of March.

Notice: The room temperature in unheated rooms should be at least 10 degrees Celsius.

location

You can grow French beans on the windowsill, in the greenhouse or in a cold frame. It is important that the location meets the following requirements:

  • Temperature: 20 - 25 degrees Celsius
  • bright but no direct sunlight
  • protected from wind and draughts
  • high humidity

notice: French beans are dark germinators, which is why they need little light to germinate.

What is needed?

You only need a little equipment to grow the bush beans: soil and pots. While many plants are preferably sown in nutrient-poor potting soil, ordinary potting soil or special substrate for vegetable plants is recommended for sowing bush beans. With regard to the vessels, specimens have proven themselves that have the following characteristics:

  • Size: 8-10cm
  • per seed about 5×5 cm in circumference
  • Drainage hole to avoid waterlogging
  • Depth not absolutely necessary, French beans are shallow-rooted

tip: Oblong planters (e.g. balcony boxes) are very suitable for sowing bush beans.

Prepare seed

In principle, you can sow the seeds directly, but it is better to prepare them in advance. This step not only promotes germination, but also reduces the germination time by around a week. To prepare the seeds, do the following:

  • Sand down the seeds in one spot with a nail file or similar
  • Put the seeds in a container with water
  • let soak for at least half a day
  • better let it soak for 24 hours

create drainage

The substrate should be moist during germination, but waterlogging should be avoided at all costs. The containers should have drainage holes so that excess water can drain away. To prevent these from becoming clogged, it is advisable to create a drainage system. To do this, create a layer about two centimeters high from one of the following materials:

  • drainage gravel
  • quartz sand
  • potsherds

Prefer bush beans: instructions

Once you have prepared the seeds and created the drainage, you can start sowing the bush beans. To do this, first put some substrate in the pots, but do not fill them completely. Then proceed as follows:

  • Press the seeds 1-2 cm deep into the soil
  • cover lightly with soil
  • pour something
  • Stretch foil over pot
  • Place the container in a suitable location

During the germination period, it is important to take care of the seedlings accordingly. Keep the substrate moist but avoid waterlogging. To allow air exchange and prevent mold growth, remove the film once a day. You can remove them completely around 14 days after germination.

Notice: Early specimens can be planted out from mid-May, after the ice saints.

Sow bush beans in the bed

Sowing directly into the vegetable patch is possible if the soil temperature is permanently at least 10 to 12 degrees Celsius. The sowing itself is done as usual by carefully working the seeds into the soil and covering them with substrate. When sowing, also make sure that there is sufficient planting distance:

  • Planting distance: approx. 30 - 40 cm
  • Distance between rows: approx. 40 cm

Tip: Bush beans can also be sown in clumps with a slightly smaller planting distance.

Good and bad neighbors

Bush beans get along with a variety of other vegetables and therefore do very well in mixed cultures. Nevertheless, there are also some plants with which they harmonize less. Below is an overview of good neighbors and bad neighbors of French beans:

Good neighbors

  • strawberries
  • cucumbers
  • cabbage
  • lettuce
  • radish
  • Beetroot
  • salad
  • celery
  • spinach

Tip: Good neighbors should also get along well with each other. Strawberries and cabbage harmonize with French beans, but they don't like each other. Therefore, never mix too many types of vegetables.

Bad neighbors

  • peas
  • fennel
  • garlic
  • leek
  • onion
Source: Michel Voss, Young pumpkin plants next to bush beans, soil mulched with fruit tree grass clippings from neighboring gardens, 08/14/2015. - panorama edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0

frequently asked Questions

How long does germination take?

The germination period is about 7 to 14 days.

How does mixed culture affect bush beans?

Good plant neighbors can keep pests away and promote the growth of the plants. Poor plant neighbors, on the other hand, attract pests or take too many nutrients from the soil or release unfavorable substances into the soil.

When to plant bush beans in the bed?

You can put early bush beans in the bed after the ice saints. Before doing so, however, it is advisable to harden off the plants and gradually acclimate them to outdoor conditions. To do this, always place the pricked plants outdoors for an hour or so so that they slowly become familiar with the outside conditions.

Category:

Vegetable garden