How to grow Beans (bush) in Australia
Sow bush beans direct in full sun in warm, well-drained soil, and avoid heavy nitrogen feeding as they fix their own. Water consistently once flowering starts to set a good crop, keeping water off the leaves.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Sun: Full sun
- Water: 5 litres a week, watered every 2 days
- Spacing: 20 cm
- Time to harvest: 65 days
- Time to germinate: 8 days
- Soil pH: 6 to 7
- Frost tolerance: Frost tender
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | February to May, August to October | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | February to May, September and October | Coastal follows SEQ. Hinterland frost pockets: wait until September for spring sowing. |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | September to February | Spring planting optimal; avoid winter. Summer window extends Dec to Feb in milder coastal areas. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | October to December | Sow Oct to Dec once frost passes (mid-Oct+). Remove Feb to May sowings; autumn frost ends crop before cold sets in. |
| Adelaide & SA | September to February | Frost kills beans. Sow Oct to Dec for the main crop, late Sep on the warm plains, then succession sow to Feb with steady water in heatwaves. |
| Perth & WA | March to May, September and October | Mediterranean: shift from baseline. Autumn/winter beans (Mar to May), spring beans (Sept to Oct). Avoid summer. |
| Tasmania | October to December | Sow Oct to Dec once soil warms. No autumn sowing - the season closes too early. Frost ends the crop in April. |
| Canberra & ACT | November to January | Frost tender, not a cool season crop. Sow Nov to Jan once the last frost has passed in early November and the soil warms. Pick before the April frosts. |
| North Queensland | April to August | Dry season Apr to Aug. Beans run right through the NQ dry; a winter crop at Bowen. Wet season humidity brings fungal collapse. |
| Darwin & Top End | April to August | Continuous dry season window Apr to Aug. Sep to Oct sowings hit the build up. Wet season rusts and rots beans. |
Varieties
- Blue Lake (Bush)
- Purple King
- Scarlet Runner
- Snake Bean / Yard Long
- Borlotti (Pinto)
Companion planting
Good companions
Avoid planting near
Harvest and storage
Harvest tip
Pick pods while slim, firm and crisp, before the seeds bulge through. Snap or pinch them off and keep picking every few days to push more pods.
Storage
Fridge in a bag, up to 4 days. Blanch and freeze very well.