In mid-May it is time to sow the frost-sensitive bush beans. In warm soil they germinate within ten to fourteen days. The simplest method is to sow directly into the bed. It is also possible to pre-culture the bush beans in a pot on the warm windowsill, in the greenhouse or in the cold frame.
When and how to sow bush beans?
Bush beans should be sown in mid-May when the soil is at least 10°C warm. Sowing directly into the bed is easiest, either in rows 8-10 cm apart or in clumps 30-40 cm apart. A pre-culture on the windowsill is possible from April.
Sowing time for bush beans
Many vegetables have already been sown or planted. In mid-May it is now time to sow the bush beans. They are heat-loving plants and when sowing the soil should have warmed to at least 10 degrees Celsius.
Preparing the sowing
- loose up the dug up soil again
- Mix in compost to enrich nutrients
- Soak the beans in water overnight
- Drag lines
Sow bush beans directly into the bed
You can sow bush beans directly into the bed. They are only inserted two to three centimeters deep. This means they use the upper, warmed layers of soil to germinate and penetrate the surface more quickly.
Row sowing or clump sowing are ideal for bush beans.
- Row sowing: The bean seeds are placed individually in rows, 8 to 10 cm apart.
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Sowing in clumps: Six to eight seeds are sown in planting holes or shallow hollows. The distance between the clumps is 30 to 40 cm.
If you create several rows of beans, the row spacing should be 50 to 60 cm.
After laying the seeds, carefully rake soil over them and water lightly. The moisture in the soil is often enough for germination.
Sowing bush beans in pots on the windowsill
You can also pre-germinate French beans indoors for an earlier harvest. This happens from April in small flower pots (€25.00 on Amazon) on the windowsill. The small plants will be placed in the bed from May.
Caring for Bush Beans
- at a height of approx. 10 cm the plants will pile up, this gives the bush beans a better holdsupport
- Chop carefully between the beans so as not to damage the roots
- water regularly when flowering begins, drought can cause the flowers to drop
- pay attention to pests and diseases