Growing Beans on an Allotment

Beans are among the most productive, reliable, and soil-improving crops you can grow on an allotment. They’re ideal for beginners, work well in both the ground and containers, and reward good watering and harvesting with weeks (sometimes months) of crops.

This guide covers all main types of beans, how to grow them from seed or plug plants, when to plant, spacing, watering and feeding, pests and diseases, containers vs ground growing, and proven ways to boost yields.

🌱 1. Types of Beans You Can Grow

🌿 Broad Beans

• Cool-season crop

• Very hardy

• Grown for early harvests

🌱 Dwarf French Beans

• Compact, bushy plants

• Ideal for containers

• Heavy croppers in summer

🌿 Climbing French Beans

• Taller, higher yields than dwarf types

• Need supports

🌺 Runner Beans

• Tall, vigorous climbers

• Long harvesting season

• Excellent for vertical growing

(Dry beans like borlotti or haricot are grown similarly but left to mature fully.)

🌰 2. Ways to Grow Beans

From Seed (Most Common)

Beans germinate easily and grow quickly.

Pros

• Cheap and reliable

• Wide choice of varieties

• Strong root systems

Cons

• Vulnerable to slugs when young

Plug Plants

Young bean plants grown in modules.

Pros

• Faster start

• Less early pest damage

• Useful for late planting

Cons

• More expensive

• Limited availability

👉 Both methods work — protection in early stages matters most.

🗓️ 3. When to Sow & Plant Beans

Broad Beans

• Sow outdoors: Oct–Nov (overwintering) or Feb–Mar

• Harvest: May–June

French Beans (Dwarf & Climbing)

• Sow indoors: April

• Sow outdoors: May–July (after last frost)

Runner Beans

• Sow indoors: April

• Plant outdoors: May–June

Beans hate frost — warm soil is essential for summer types.

🌾 4. How to Grow Beans in the Ground

Soil Requirements

• Free-draining soil

• Open, sunny site

• Compost added before planting

Beans prefer soil that is fertile but not heavily fed.

Spacing

Broad Beans

• 20–25cm apart

• 45cm between rows

Dwarf French Beans

• 10–15cm apart

• 45cm between rows

Climbing Beans (Runner & French)

• 20–30cm apart

• Plant around supports

Crowding reduces airflow and increases disease.

Supports (Climbing Beans)

• Canes in a wigwam or A-frame

• Strong netting or trellis

• Secure well — plants get heavy

🪴 5. Growing Beans in Containers

Beans grow very well in containers if depth and moisture are adequate.

Container Guidelines

• Minimum depth: 30cm

• Dwarf beans: ideal for pots

• Climbing beans: need large containers + supports

Water containers frequently — they dry quickly in summer.

💧 6. Watering Beans

Consistent watering is critical, especially during:

• flowering

• pod formation

Best Practice

• Water deeply at soil level

• Avoid wetting foliage

• Mulch to retain moisture

Poor watering causes:

• flowers dropping

• misshapen pods

• reduced yields

🌿 7. Feeding Beans

Beans are light feeders and improve soil by fixing nitrogen.

Feeding Rules

• Compost before planting is enough

• Avoid high-nitrogen feeds

• Optional liquid feed if plants look weak

Overfeeding causes leaf growth at the expense of pods.

🐛 8. Common Pests & Diseases

Blackfly (Aphids) – Broad Beans

Symptoms

• Black clusters on shoot tips

Control

• Pinch out tops once flowering starts

• Encourage predators

• Jet of water if needed

Slugs & Snails

• Attack seedlings

Control

• Protect early

• Use barriers and good airflow

Bean Rust

Symptoms

• Brown/orange spots on leaves

Prevention

• Good spacing

• Avoid wet foliage

• Remove affected leaves

🧺 9. Harvesting Beans 

Harvest Little & Often

• Pick pods while young and tender

• Harvest every 2–3 days

Leaving pods to mature:

• signals the plant to stop producing

Use scissors or pinch gently to avoid damage.

🌾 10. Improving Bean Yields

• Warm soil before planting

• Consistent watering

• Regular harvesting

• Strong supports for climbers

• Succession sowing every 3–4 weeks

Beans reward attention, not feeding.

⚡ Quick Bean Growing Tips

• One short row can supply a household

• Pinch broad bean tops to reduce blackfly

• Mulch during hot weather

• Freeze surplus pods quickly

Photo by Duy Le Duc on Unsplash