Deciding when to pull the bush beans

16 years ago

How do you all decide when to yank out the bush bean plants? My super Wax and Derby plants have been yielding all season, but are definitely slowing down now. As it is often claimed, the first flush of beans is the best, and it dwindles after that. I have pole beans starting to come in to replace the bush varieties, and I would love the bush bean bed space for Fall pea planting now, but I always feel a little bad about yanking flowering healthy plants, even if they are getting a little ragged now.

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Comments (11)

Violet_Z6
16 years ago
Trust your instincts. If you have something in mind for a fall planting that can be planted/sown now, then by all means, pull the bush bean plants and consider it home grown compost material.

*wink*
annie-lee
16 years ago
I may have remembered differently, I have not been growing bush beans for years. But years ago when I grew them, I always waited for the second crops. It take some time for then to rest and revigorate themselves again. But when they get back again with cooler weather, they are almost as productive as the first crop. Of course if you have pole beans coming and you need the space, that's something else.
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ediej1209 AL Zn 7
16 years ago
We pulled ours a couple of weeks ago when there were just a couple of spindly beans left and no new blossoms coming on. Then we re-planted with a shorter-season variety in the hopes that we will get more. We love beans!!
digdirt2
16 years ago
Rather than pulling them just cut them off at soil level and leave all those great nitrogen-fixed roots and nodules they worked so hard to develop in the soil for future plant nutrients. ;).

Dave
jimster
16 years ago
"I always feel a little bad about yanking flowering healthy plants..."

You are too soft hearted, like many gardeners. They hate to thin their rows (not beans, but stuff like beets) and hate to clear out one crop for the next. Be ruthless. Your garden will be all the better for it.

Jim
raisemybeds
Original Author
16 years ago
Okay - I'm going for it. Those beans are toast tomorrow.
jimster
16 years ago
I'm proud of you.

Jim
barrie2m_(6a, central PA)
16 years ago
Consider a different strategy of planting a few extras and pulling all during the first harvest. Derby, Tema, Bronco, Strike and many others tend to set most of their beans uniformly. I find that I can sit on a cart and pull and pick 2 rows making much better progress than if I try to just find beans on the inground plant. Always have a backup planting to move onto and you will avoid those overmature missed beans and poorer followup pickings from the same plants.

The ease of picking is the greatest benefit from pulling plants. If you hold the plant on its side most of the beans will hang unobstructed so you gan grab a handfull at once. Then by twirling the stem the remainder of beans are easy to access. It's so easy that I do the vast majority of my bean picking after dark with a headlamp. My harvest rate is better than during daylight hours and beans are more crisp.
digit
16 years ago
Raise, not only does pulling the beans provide room for something else but it give me a clear shot at the weeds. Quick crops always puts me ahead in the weeding race whereas long-season plants are almost as troublesome as perennials for allowing weeds to hide, bide, and bother.

Finally, old bean plants in my garden become covered with red spider mites. Yeech!

Steve
justaguy2
16 years ago
If you have pole beans and your bush varieties are definitely slowing down and you know you want the space for other things then you have answered your own question! ;-)

Pull them up (or preferably cut them off near soil level and leave the roots alone) and plant whatever you wish.
porkster
16 years ago
Great thread! I have the exact same delima. My bush beans produced wonderful all summer and now are tired. But they still look pretty. It hurts my feelings to pull them! But your answers talked me into pulling them. Ok. I am sure I will still get quite a harvest from another planting.

I had the same problem with my cucumber and zucchini. Is that common? They get tired so soon? I pulled them and replanted. They sprouted in 3 days! incredible!