When to plant

• Sow seeds outdoors about 2 weeks after your average last spring frost.
• Ready to harvest about 120 days after planting.

Needs a long, hot season and loose, sandy soil.

Frost dates depend on where you live. Enter your ZIP code to get exact dates.

Dates by zone: 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b

Growing basics

Sun

Full sun (6+ hours)

Spacing

6–8 in

Soil temperature

At least 65°F

Time to harvest

About 120 days

Containers

At least 5 gallons

Plant family

Bean and pea family (legumes)

Harvest per plant

About 0.25 lb

Seeds keep

About 1 year

Companions

Keep apart: the onion family (alliums). Onions and garlic can stunt beans and peas.

Keep apart: Horseradish. Horseradish spreads aggressively. Give it its own spot.

Keep apart: Mint. Mint spreads aggressively into neighbors. Keep it in a pot.

Keep apart: Fennel (bulb). Fennel slows the growth of most garden plants. Grow it on its own.

Keep apart: Sunflower. Sunflowers release compounds that can slow beans.

Keep apart: Sunchoke (Jerusalem artichoke). Sunchokes spread aggressively and shade neighbors.

Pests and problems

Grow it well

Affiliate links: we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.