Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →

How to Grow Bush Beans Indoors

...

Tip

Use only inoculated bean seeds to ensure they will grow healthy and be productive. Otherwise, inoculate them yourself before planting.

Brush your hands over the flowers lightly once they appear to encourage full pollination and bean production.

Plant several plants 2 to 4 weeks apart for a continual crop throughout summer.

Place the container on a wheeled cart and move outdoors on sunny days.

Warning

Avoid getting the bean pods wet when watering as this may lead to disease.

Avoid over watering as this will cause the beans to rot in the ground.

Bush beans are commonly referred to as green beans or snap beans. Long and green, the pods as well as the immature beans inside are eaten. Choose varieties of bush beans suited for container gardens, such as Blue Lake beans, if you are growing indoors. The primary concern with indoor beans is supplying enough natural sunlight for them to grow healthy. Ensuring a sunny window, using grow lights, or moving the containers outdoors for part of the day will provide the light needed.

Choose a pot that is at least 12 inches in diameter with plenty of drainage holes. Depth is of little concern as beans have shallow roots.

  • Bush beans are commonly referred to as green beans or snap beans.
  • Choose varieties of bush beans suited for container gardens, such as Blue Lake beans, if you are growing indoors.

Fill the pot with rich, well draining potting soil. Make your own potting mix with 2 parts compost to 1 part peat moss and 1 part vermiculite. Leave a 4-inch space between the soil surface and the rim of the pot.

Sow beans in late spring. Plant bush beans 2 to 4 inches apart and 1 inch below the soil surface.

Add a 1-inch layer of organic mulch on top of the soil. Use compost or wood chips to help maintain the moisture level in your pots.

  • Fill the pot with rich, well draining potting soil.
  • Add a 1-inch layer of organic mulch on top of the soil.

Water immediately after planting and plan for subsequent watering when the top 2 to 3 inches of soil becomes dry. Give container plants approximately one deep watering a week.

Place the beans in the sunniest window in the house. Choose an area where they receive 8 hours of direct sunlight or place under grow lights for 14 hours a day.

Fertilize monthly with a general purpose water-soluble fertilizer.

Harvest when the pods are firm and crisp, but before the beans inside mature, approximately 60 days after planting. Harvesting frequently keeps the plant producing longer.

  • Water immediately after planting and plan for subsequent watering when the top 2 to 3 inches of soil becomes dry.

Related Articles

How to Grow Tomatoes in the House
How to Grow Tomatoes in the House
How to Grow Onions Indoors - Year Round
How to Grow Onions Indoors - Year Round
How to Plant Blue Lake Bush Beans in Containers
How to Plant Blue Lake Bush Beans in Containers
How Tall Does a Bean Plant Grow?
How Tall Does a Bean Plant Grow?
How to Grow Beanstalks
How to Grow Beanstalks
How to Grow Soybeans Indoors
How to Grow Soybeans Indoors
What Eats the Leaves & Tomatoes on Plants?
What Eats the Leaves & Tomatoes on Plants?
How to Start Sunflower Seeds Indoors
How to Start Sunflower Seeds Indoors
How to Grow Beans
How to Grow Beans
Pole Beans Vs. Bush Beans
Pole Beans Vs. Bush Beans
How to Harvest Black-Eyed Peas
How to Harvest Black-Eyed Peas
Garden Guides
×