Green Beans should be planted after all danger of frost is past in the spring. You can grow a continuous supply of snap beans by planting every 2 to 4 weeks.
Plant seeds one inch deep. Beans are generally direct seeded in the garden. Plant seeds of bush beans 2 to 4 inches apart in rows at least 18 to 24 inches apart. Plant seeds of pole beans 4 to 6 inches apart in rows 30 to 36 inches apart; or in hills (four to six seeds per hill) 30 inches apart, with 30 inches between rows.
Beans like a moderately rich soil with a slightly acidic pH of about 6.0 to 6.2. They prefer a loose, moist soil.
Keep the Green Bean plants well watered. Mulch helps keep their shallow roots moist. Long producing pole beans will benefit from a feeding or a side dressing of compost or manure about half way through their growing season.
Staggered planting every 2 weeks, will keep your bush beans going longer. Pole beans need time to grow their vines, before they start setting beans. The pole bean crop will continue to produce for a month or two.
Harvest Green Beans when the pods are firm, crisp and fully elongated, but before the seed within the pod has developed significantly. Picking beans from wet plants can spread bean bacterial blight, a disease that seriously damages the plants.
Bush Beans Varieties stand erect without support. They yield well and require the least amount of work.
Blue Lake 274 (58 days to harvest; plump, tender pods; slow-developing seeds; resistant to bean mosaic)
Bush Kentucky Wonder (57 days; long, flattened pods)
Derby (57 days; 1990 AAS winner; slim, tender, prolific; excellent pods)
Pole Beans Varieties climb supports and are easily harvested. Pole beans will need some type of support to grow on. Be sure the trellis, teepee, fence or whatever is in place before you seed
Blue Lake(65 days to harvest; oval, straight, stringless, juicy and tender pods; resistant to bean mosaic)
Kentucky Blue (65 days; AAS Winner; round; 7 inch pods)
Kentucky Wonder (65 days; fine flavor, 9 inch pods in clusters)