Pole bean vines are vigorous and need something to climb on (trellis, tepee, corn, fruit trees). Sow seeds outside 5/15-6/7 (after soil temp has reached at least 60 °). Sow seeds 1” deep, 3” apart. Protect seedlings from slugs/snails (use caffeinated coffee grounds or organic phosphate based slug bait). Days to germination: 6-16. Protect plants from groundhogs & deer. Plant pole beans on the north side of sun loving plants otherwise bean vines may shade them. Pole beans will keep producing beans until frost if kept picked. Beans perform best if the seeds are inoculated with Bean Inoculant at planting time.
Harvest young pods frequently while still thin and tender. Pods left to mature will become tough.
Beans are an easy seed saving crop. They will not cross with other bean species and tend to self-pollinate. Isolation distance: 50 feet between bean varieties of the same species. Minimum population size: 10 plants. Allow seeds to mature on the vine (pods will become tan and dry). Save seeds only from the best plants. Clean seed as a dry-seeded crop.
