Vegetable (legume annual)
Bean (Bush & Pole)
Phaseolus vulgaris
One of the few vegetables that improves the soil it grows in, fixing nitrogen through root nodules for the next crop.
| Light | Full sun |
|---|---|
| Water | Moderate; even moisture during flowering and pod set |
| Spacing | Bush: 10-15 cm; pole: 15-20 cm at the base of supports |
| Zones | Annual, frost-tender |
| Harvest | 50-60 days bush, 60-70 days pole |
| Difficulty | Easy |
Bush vs pole
Bush beans crop earlier and all at once, useful for preserving. Pole beans need a support but produce over a longer window and more per square foot of ground, since growth goes vertical.
Do not oversow the same bed
Rotate legumes to a new bed each year — the nitrogen-fixing benefit is real but soil-borne diseases build up quickly in beds planted with beans repeatedly.
More plant profiles
- TomatoThe most-grown vegetable in home gardens, and the one most improved by consistent water and a cage or stake set at planting time.
- LettuceA fast, forgiving crop that bolts to seed in heat, so timing and shade matter more than soil fertility.
- BasilThe most temperature-sensitive common herb — it sulks below 10°C and needs regular pinching to stay leafy rather than flowering.