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Vegetable · Fabaceae family

Common bean

Phaseolus vulgaris

Full sun 0.4–0.6 m × 0.25–0.45 m Harvest July–September Moderate care

In short a 10-second read

SunFull sun
Size0.4–0.6 m
spacing 15 cm
Water~22 l/m²
a week in a dry summer
SowingMay–June
HarvestJuly–September
Care levelModerate care
Do not eat raw bean pods and seeds.

Where to plant and how much to water

Sun, soil and water.

It grows best in full sun, in average soil.

Sun

Sun6 hours or more
Part shade3–6 hours
Shadeunder 3 h

Soil

acidic to neutral soil
acidicneutralalkaline
averagehumus-richloamysandy

Watering

Common bean — Watering
~22 l/m²a week in a dry summer
more when fruitingonly in dry spellsless when it rains

How much space it takes

Mature size.

The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).

50 cm1 m1.5 m0.4–0.6 mspread 0.25–0.45 m
0.4–0.6 m× spread 0.25–0.45 m

Plant 15 cm apart.

How to plant: in rows, 15 cm in the row, 30 cm between rows

The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.

Calendar

Through the year.

Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.

The year at a glance

Sowing: JanuarySowing: FebruarySowing: MarchSowing: AprilSowing: MaySowing: JuneSowing: JulySowing: AugustSowing: SeptemberSowing: OctoberSowing: NovemberSowing: DecemberFeeding: JanuaryFeeding: FebruaryFeeding: MarchFeeding: AprilFeeding: MayFeeding: JuneFeeding: JulyFeeding: AugustFeeding: SeptemberFeeding: OctoberFeeding: NovemberFeeding: DecemberHarvest: JanuaryHarvest: FebruaryHarvest: MarchHarvest: AprilHarvest: MayHarvest: JuneHarvest: JulyHarvest: AugustHarvest: SeptemberHarvest: OctoberHarvest: NovemberHarvest: DecemberCheck: JanuaryCheck: FebruaryCheck: MarchCheck: AprilCheck: MayCheck: JuneCheck: JulyCheck: AugustCheck: SeptemberCheck: OctoberCheck: NovemberCheck: DecemberJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
SowingFeedingHarvestCheck
Now, in October: nothing to do — the next job is in May.
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Sowing

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

direct sowing: May–June

Feeding

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

May–June

Harvest

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

July–September

Check

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

May–August: Check the shoot tips of legumes for black aphids and pinch out the tops.

Feeding

Nutrition.

Common bean — Feeding
Horn meal

up to 50 g/m² · in 1 dose · May–June

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Pests and diseases

Common problems and what to do.

The most common problems in Central Europe. Protection is listed from the gentlest option.

High riskMedium riskLow riskRisk for this plant according to the source · no label = no documented level
Bean seed fly

Bean seed fly

Delia platura
High riskpest

What you will see

Destroyed or distorted seedlings and blind shoots.

The source says: the larvae can kill bean seedlings.

When to look

Spring

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Sow in pots and plant out once they have germinated; quick, healthy growth after sowing reduces damage.
    • Prepare the soil well (organic matter in autumn), cover with fleece, which also adds warmth.
  2. By hand springEncourage predatory beetles and ground beetles.
Bean seed flypest · springHigh risk

What you will see

Destroyed or distorted seedlings and blind shoots.

The source says: the larvae can kill bean seedlings.

When to look

Spring

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Sow in pots and plant out once they have germinated; quick, healthy growth after sowing reduces damage.
    • Prepare the soil well (organic matter in autumn), cover with fleece, which also adds warmth.
  2. By hand springEncourage predatory beetles and ground beetles.

What you will see

Black aphids on shoot tips; growth is poorer and fewer pods form, but the pulses themselves are usually undamaged.

When to look

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
May–August

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Tolerate them to some extent: damage is usually small.
    • Encourage ladybirds, hoverflies, lacewings and parasitic wasps.
  2. By hand April to AugustPinch off affected tips or squash colonies with your fingers.
  3. Chemical — only when nothing else helps according to the product labelLast resort only: a product authorised in your country against aphids. Try non-chemical methods first.
Black bean aphid (blackfly)pest · May–August

What you will see

Black aphids on shoot tips; growth is poorer and fewer pods form, but the pulses themselves are usually undamaged.

When to look

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
May–August

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Tolerate them to some extent: damage is usually small.
    • Encourage ladybirds, hoverflies, lacewings and parasitic wasps.
  2. By hand April to AugustPinch off affected tips or squash colonies with your fingers.
  3. Chemical — only when nothing else helps according to the product labelLast resort only: a product authorised in your country against aphids. Try non-chemical methods first.
More about this problem
Runner and French bean rust

Runner and French bean rust

Uromyces appendiculatus
disease

What you will see

Brown, black or white spore pustules on leaves, stems or pods.

When to look

Summer

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • The disease appears mainly later in the season (after midsummer) and often does not reduce the crop.
    • Pick off affected leaves straight away (affected older leaves first).
    • After harvest, collect and dispose of all remains.
  2. By hand from midsummerRemove heavily infested plants; dispose of the remains.
Runner and French bean rustdisease · summer

What you will see

Brown, black or white spore pustules on leaves, stems or pods.

When to look

Summer

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • The disease appears mainly later in the season (after midsummer) and often does not reduce the crop.
    • Pick off affected leaves straight away (affected older leaves first).
    • After harvest, collect and dispose of all remains.
  2. By hand from midsummerRemove heavily infested plants; dispose of the remains.

What you will see

Irregular holes in soft leaves and young shoots and slime trails; they feed at night.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Plant sturdy potted plants, not delicate young seedlings.
    • Water in the morning, not the evening (evening watering helps them move around).
    • Encourage their natural enemies: birds, hedgehogs, toads, ground beetles.
  2. By hand evening, after rainPick them off by hand on damp evenings and take them far away. Traps: hollowed-out citrus halves placed cut side down, or sunken containers of beer; check in the morning.
  3. Biological when the soil is warm and moistSlug-specific nematodes (from a biological control supplier) are watered into the soil.
  4. Chemical — only when nothing else helps according to the product labelLast resort only: a product authorised in your country against slugs and snails. Try non-chemical methods first.
Slugs and snailspest

What you will see

Irregular holes in soft leaves and young shoots and slime trails; they feed at night.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Plant sturdy potted plants, not delicate young seedlings.
    • Water in the morning, not the evening (evening watering helps them move around).
    • Encourage their natural enemies: birds, hedgehogs, toads, ground beetles.
  2. By hand evening, after rainPick them off by hand on damp evenings and take them far away. Traps: hollowed-out citrus halves placed cut side down, or sunken containers of beer; check in the morning.
  3. Biological when the soil is warm and moistSlug-specific nematodes (from a biological control supplier) are watered into the soil.
  4. Chemical — only when nothing else helps according to the product labelLast resort only: a product authorised in your country against slugs and snails. Try non-chemical methods first.
More about this problem
Sources (6)

Bed neighbours

Good and bad neighbours.

Each neighbour shows how we know it.

✓Good neighbours

✕Bad neighbours

Frequently asked

Quick answers.

When do I sow common bean?

In May–June (direct sowing).

When is common bean harvested?

In July–September.

Does common bean tolerate shade?

No, it needs full sun.

How much space does common bean need?

At maturity 0.25–0.45 m wide and 0.4–0.6 m tall; recommended spacing 15 cm.

Bean seed fly — what can you do?

Sow in pots and plant out once they have germinated; quick, healthy growth after sowing reduces damage. Encourage predatory beetles and ground beetles.

Black bean aphid (blackfly) — what can you do?

Tolerate them to some extent: damage is usually small. Pinch off affected tips or squash colonies with your fingers.

Sources (7) Checked 27 October 2026

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