Whether you grow bush (dwarf) beans or pole (vine) beans is really a matter of choice and maybe space. I prefer bush (dwarf) beans for reasons that will become apparent. So read on and make up your own mind on bush beans vs pole beans.
Pole Or Bush Beans
Beans go by many names, green beans, snap beans, and string beans are but a few. Whatever you call them they are all members of the legume family and for the most part grow through the warmer seasons of the year. Pole beans grow up supports and will sprawl along pathways etc… if not supported to a length of 12 feet (3.6 ms) or more.
Bush beans are more compact plants growing to around 2 feet (60 cms) high. The best way to describe them is that pole beans are like indeterminate tomatoes and bush beans are like determinate tomatoes. In as much as bush beans will stop at a determined height and pole beans won’t.
Bush Beans
Dwarf or bush beans stop growing at a certain height and produce one crop of beans over a few weeks. They are a good choice for small gardens and container growers. Bush beans don’t generally need supports although planting 2 rows together is beneficial.
Once they finish producing that’s it the plants will die back and the crop is done. So dwarf beans are smaller plants producing all their crop in one go and then dying back. Commercial growers grow acres of bush beans to obtain a large harvest but 6 to 8 plants in a bucket will provide quite a few beans.
Pole Beans
Vining beans or pole beans will continue to grow until checked by frosts and will continue to produce beans as long as they grow. The crop can go on for months rather than weeks but it is advisable to grow plants up canes or trellis. These can also be grown in small spaces and can be grown in containers.
It is best to pick pole beans regularly to keep them producing and to stop the beans becoming stringy. The disadvantage to growing pole beans is they are vulnerable to the wind. So if you live in an area which gets a lot of wind bush beans might be best to grow.
Bush Beans vs Pole Beans
I find that pole beans need much more water than bush beans so this is worth considering when making your choice. Also pole beans are more likely to go stringy and nobody likes a stringy bean. As it is windy and relatively dry where I live I grow only bush beans however I have local friends who have great success with pole beans.
Do Pole Beans Or Bush Beans Produce More
Plant for plant, pole beans produce more but to my mind it’s about quality not quantity so I just grow more bush beans. For more information on bush beans vs pole beans click here to go to the Louisiana State University website.
Growing Green Beans In Containers
I find I can grow 6-8 plants of either type in a 2 gallon bucket, the bigger the container the more plants you can fit in. If growing pole types add support canes at planting time to prevent root damage. As with all container grown plants take particular care with watering, containers dry out rapidly in hot, dry and/or windy conditions.
Due to the run off from containers nutrients will also diminish at a fast rate so it is best to feed beans with a liquid feed weekly once flowers form. I use comfrey tea fetiliser but a good tomato feed can be used. To find out how to make comfrey tea click here.
Harvest beans often and if growing pole beans protect from strong winds if possible. So that about wraps it up let me know in the comments which type you choose and why and also how they did.