How to grow Beans (bush) in Australia
Bush beans are one of the quickest and most generous summer crops: sow seed into warm soil and you can be picking in about 10 weeks. They need no staking, make their own nitrogen, and keep cropping as long as you keep picking. Warm soil, steady water and regular picking are the keys.
📖 Our full guide: Growing Beans in Australia: When to Plant Green String Beans
At a glance
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 | Sow from February to May and again in September and October. Starting spring sowings in September protects them in hinterland frost pockets. |
| 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 from October to December once frost has passed, usually from mid October. There is no autumn sowing, as the autumn frosts end the crop. |
| 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. Skip autumn sowing, because 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. |
Where to plant
Beans grow best in full sun in rich, deep, well-drained soil with compost dug in. They do not do well in poor sandy soil, so improve it with organic matter first. Beans like temperatures between about 15°C and 30°C, and seed rots or fails to come up in cold, wet soil.
Grow beans where you did not grow beans or peas last season, which helps keep soil-borne diseases down.
- Melbourne, Hobart and Canberra: sow from October or November to December once frost has passed and the soil warms. Frost ends the crop in autumn.
- Sydney and Adelaide: sow from September or October through summer, with steady water in heatwaves.
- Perth: sow in March to May and again in September and October, avoiding the summer heat.
- South East Queensland and the Northern Rivers: sow from February to May and again in August to October.
- North Queensland and Darwin: sow in the dry season, April to August. Wet-season humidity brings rust and rot.
Choosing a variety
- Bush (dwarf) beans grow to about 30 to 50 cm, need no support and crop quickly. Blue Lake comes in bush and climbing forms.
- Purple King is a climbing bean with purple pods that turn green when cooked.
- Climbing beans grow to about 2 m on a trellis, crop for longer and suit small gardens because they grow up rather than out.
- Borlotti beans are grown for their speckled seeds, picked fresh or dried. Snake beans suit hot, humid climates.
How to plant
- Dig in compost before sowing. A little blood and bone can go in at sowing, kept away from the seed.
- Sow seed directly into damp, not soggy, soil about 3 cm deep and 20 cm apart. Do not soak the seed first, and do not water again until the seedlings appear unless the soil dries out.
- Seedlings usually appear in 7 to 10 days in warm soil.
- Sow a short row every three or four weeks for a steady supply.
- For climbing beans, put up a trellis or teepee before sowing.
Watering and feeding
Overwatering is the most common problem with young beans; seedlings in soggy, poorly drained soil turn yellow and rot. Once plants are growing, water regularly, and keep the soil evenly moist from flowering, as dry soil makes flowers drop. Water the soil rather than the leaves.
Beans make their own nitrogen through bacteria in their roots, so they need little feeding. High-nitrogen fertilisers give leaves at the expense of beans. A seaweed tonic at flowering is helpful.
Pruning and care through the year
- Mulch around the plants once they are up, to keep the soil moist and cool.
- In bean fly areas, hill soil or mulch up around the stems two to three weeks after the seedlings emerge. Damaged plants then grow new roots from the buried stem.
- Give plants space so air moves between them, which helps keep powdery mildew down.
- When the crop finishes, cut the plants off at ground level and leave the roots in the soil to add nitrogen for the next crop.
Harvesting
Bush beans start cropping about 10 weeks after sowing, climbing beans in about 12 to 14 weeks. Pick pods while they are young and tender, before the seeds inside swell, and pick every two or three days. Regular picking keeps the plants flowering; if pods are left to mature, the plant stops.
Hold the stem as you pick so you do not pull the plant out. Fresh beans keep for a few days in the fridge, and blanched beans freeze well.
Growing in pots
Bush beans grow well in a pot or trough at least 30 cm wide and deep. Use a quality potting mix and water regularly once flowering starts.
Saving seed
Leave a few pods on healthy plants until they are dry and papery, then shell the seeds and dry them further before storing in a paper bag. Most beans are self-pollinating, so open-pollinated varieties come true from seed.
Companion planting
Beans are good neighbours for most vegetables, and their roots leave nitrogen in the soil for the next crop. Flowers that draw helpful insects suit them well.
Good companions
- Corn A tall summer crop that climbing beans can use as a support, and bush beans can grow beside.
- Cucumber Another summer crop that likes the same warm soil and steady water.
- Carrot A root crop that uses different space and nutrients.
- Marigold Flowers that bring in hoverflies and other helpful insects.
- Nasturtium A sacrificial plant that draws black aphids away from beans.
Keep apart
Avoid planting these close to beans (bush).
Pests and diseases
Bean fly is the main pest of young beans in Queensland and New South Wales. Most leaf diseases are worse in humid weather and crowded plantings.
Pests to watch for
- Bean fly Seedlings wilt and collapse, with swollen, cracked stems near the soil and small maggots inside. Hill up the stems and sow away from older bean crops.
- Aphids Clusters of black or green insects on shoots and young pods.
- Snails Seedlings chewed off overnight, with slime trails.
Diseases to watch for
- Rust Small, raised rusty brown spots under the leaves, worst in humid weather.
- Powdery mildew White, powdery patches on leaves in late summer and autumn.
- Bean mosaic virus Mottled light and dark green, puckered leaves and stunted plants. Pull out affected plants and control aphids, which spread it.
Common questions
Should I soak bean seeds before planting?
It is not needed and can make seed rot. Sow into damp soil and leave it, without watering again until the seedlings appear unless the soil dries out.
Why are my bean seedlings wilting and dying?
In Queensland and New South Wales, bean fly is a common cause: look for swollen, cracked stems near the soil. Overwatering in cold or poorly drained soil also rots young plants. Hill soil up around the stems and avoid soggy soil.
Why are my bean flowers falling off?
Usually heat, very hot dry winds or uneven watering. Keep the soil evenly moist from flowering and mulch the plants. Flowers set again when the weather eases.
How often should I pick beans?
Every two or three days once they start. Pick pods young, before the seeds swell. Regular picking keeps the plants flowering and cropping.
Do beans need fertiliser?
Very little. Beans make their own nitrogen, and high-nitrogen fertiliser gives leaves instead of beans. Compost at sowing and a seaweed tonic at flowering are enough.
When should I plant beans?
When the soil is warm, at least about 15°C, and frost has passed. In the south that is spring to summer; in South East Queensland, autumn and spring; in the tropics, the dry season. Pick your region at the top of the page for the months.
What is the difference between bush and climbing beans?
Bush beans grow to about 30 to 50 cm, need no support and crop sooner over a shorter period. Climbing beans grow to about 2 m on a trellis, take a little longer to start and keep cropping for longer.
Sources we checked: Sustainable Gardening Australia: Growing beans; NSW DPI: Soil-borne diseases of beans; Pacific Pests, Pathogens and Weeds: Bean and cowpea fly; Gardening Australia: Peas, Beans and Leafy Greens.