How to Care for Bush Snap Beans
- 1). Plant correctly. For the best growth, plant your bush beans in a sunny area with rich soil. Plant them in rows that are three feet apart and spread the seeds four inches from each other. Plant when the nightly temperature doesn't drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit and the daytime temperature is around 70 degrees. Don't plant them when it's cooler, as this could impede germination and cause the seeds to rot.
- 2). Give them room. Young bush beans are susceptible to choking by fast-growing weeds. Keep the seedlings free of weeds and thin the bean plants so they are no closer than four inches apart.
- 3). Water conservatively. Beans need a steady supply of water throughout the season to grow properly. Keep the soil consistently damp--not soaked. Instead of watering the beans once or twice a week, check the soil daily and water lightly when it seems dry.
- 4). Don't overfeed. Beans--and other legumes--don't use as much nitrogen as other plants. Using too much nitrogen-based fertilizer can burn the roots and impede growth. According to the Fort State Valley University's Cooperative extension, bush snap beans do best with three three-pound sprinklings of 6-12-12 fertilizer per 100-foot row: once at planting and twice during growth.
- 5). Watch for pests. Bush snap beans are unfortunately susceptible to a wide array of blight and pests, so check your beans daily for signs of problems. Your local agricultural extension can help you identify pests and the proper prevention method for your area.
- 6). Harvest carefully. You can easily damage bean plants by handling the crop too roughly. When harvesting, hold the top of the bean pod with one hand and the stem that attaches the bean pods to the plant with the other. Carefully exert pressure on the bean pod. It's all right if the stem comes off with the bean pod, but try not to pull any leaves off with it.
- 7). Continue to care for the beans. With proper care, you can expect up to four harvests from a bush snap bean plant.
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