The germination time of beans is very variable and can be between 10 and 30 days. The exact germination time depends on several factors, some of which you can control. Find out below how long your beans need to germinate under what circumstances.
How long does it take for beans to germinate?
The germination time of beans varies between 10 and 30 days and depends on factors such as sowing depth, soil temperature, bean variety and seed age. Warmer temperatures and appropriate sowing depth promote faster germination.
What does the germination time depend on?
The germination time depends crucially on two factors:
- the sowing depth
- the soil temperature
Furthermore, the age of the seeds and the type of bean also have an impact on the germination time. Bean seeds that are several years old can take a little longer to germinate than fresh seeds.
The sowing depth
Beans should be sown two to three centimeters deep, depending on the variety. If they are planted too deep, too little light will reach the seeds and they will not be able to germinate. Pay attention to the information on the seed packet (€4.00 on Amazon). The deeper the bean is sown, the longer it may take to germinate.
Soil temperature
Probably the most important factor for germination time is the soil temperature. Most types of beans require at least 10°C to germinate. The warmer, the better. At temperatures around 12°C, beans need up to 30 days to germinate, but at temperatures around 20°C they only need around 10 days. It therefore makes sense to grow the seeds at home. This means they germinate faster and can be harvested sooner. You can find out how to pre-germinate your bean seeds at home here.
Sowing time
Beans should always be sown or planted out after the Ice Saints to prevent the seeds or young plants from freezing. At temperatures below 3°C, young beans die.
What could be the reason if the beans don't germinate?
If your beans are not showing any signs of life, there could be various reasons:
- The seeds are too old
- The beans were sown too deep
- The beans have suffered drought
- It is or was too cold for the beans
You can find out more about the reasons and measures if your beans do not germinate here.
Exception broad beans
Broad beans are an exception: They germinate at temperatures around 5°C and can therefore be sown in February/March. They germinate after just 8 to 14 days, even at low temperatures.
Tip
To significantly shorten the germination time, you should soak your bean seeds in water overnight before sowing.
Here you can watch in time lapse how a bean germinates and grows into a small plant:
Keimende Bohnen
