How Many Green Beans Does One Plant Produce? A Guide to Bean Plant Yields

If you’ve ever wondered how much to plant to get food for a year, you’re in luck! I’ve spent a lot of time researching this (and tried it out myself), and I’m going to tell you what I found.

First off, you need to know what your climate is for growing your own food. Do you have a very short growing season? Can you leave plants outside all year?

I can grow plants outside in my zone 8b garden for three seasons. The hardiest plants “store” in the garden all winter, ready to be picked in the spring. With the use of our unheated greenhouse I can grow cold-hardy crops throughout the winter (albeit slowly).

As a home gardener knowing how many green beans to expect from each plant is useful for planning purposes. So how many green beans does one bean plant produce? Let’s take a look at the factors that affect green bean yields per plant.

Green Bean Plant Types

There are two main types of green bean plants – bush beans and pole beans.

Bush bean plants are compact low growing and reach about 2 feet tall. Pole beans are climbing vines that can grow up to 10 feet tall on trellises or other supports.

On average:

Bush beans produce about 20-25 beans per plant
Pole beans produce about 60-100 beans per plant

So pole beans are much more productive per plant than bush beans. However, bush beans mature and produce all their beans over a shorter 3 week period, while pole beans have a longer harvesting window.

Factors Affecting Yields Per Plant

The exact number of green beans each plant produces depends on several factors:

Variety – Some bean varieties are bred to be higher yielding than others. Look for descriptions like “heavy producer” or “high yield”.
Plant health – Robust, vigorous plants with adequate water, sun, and nutrition will set more beans. Stressed plants produce less.
Age – Beans produced in the first season from new seed will be more productive than older plants.
Growing conditions – Ideal climate, soil quality, and care leads to better yields.
Pests and disease – Bean plants free of major issues produce more beans.
Pollination – Ensure bees and other pollinators have access to beans for proper pollination and pod formation.

With optimal care and conditions, some pole bean plants can produce up to 200-300 beans per plant! But a more reasonable range is 50-150 beans for an average pole type.

Yield Per Area Planted

While pole beans are more productive per plant, bush beans often produce higher total yields per square foot planted. This is because bush beans can be spaced closer together in a garden bed.

Here are some examples of bean yields per square foot:

Bush beans spaced 4-6 inches apart can yield 0.5 – 1 pound per square foot.
Pole beans spaced 10-12 inches apart yield about 0.25 pounds per square foot.

So if you have limited space, bush beans may allow you to maximize production. But polls offer continuous harvesting over a longer period on less space overall.

Number of Plants Needed Per Person

A general guideline is to grow about 5-10 bush bean plants or 3-5 pole bean plants per person in your household.

This is based on average plant yields and typical green bean consumption. But you may need more or less plants depending on:

How often you eat green beans
If you plan to preserve beans (freezing, canning, etc)
Your desired harvest period (bush beans mature faster)

It’s always better to plant a few extra seeds or seedlings to ensure you get the quantity of beans you expect. Beans are easy to incorporate into a range of dishes if you end up with a big harvest!

Harvesting Beans for Ongoing Production

Picking green beans stimulates further pod production on the plant. So harvesting frequently is key to maximizing yields per plant.

Beans should be picked when pods reach their mature length but before bulging with seeds. For bush beans, harvest beans about 3 times per week. Pole beans can be picked about 2 times per week for steady yields.

Timely harvesting prevents pods from becoming overripe. Overmature beans divert energy from further flowering and pod production.

Planting Successions for Continuous Yields

With bush beans, planting a new crop from seed every 2-3 weeks ensures a steady supply. As each planting of bush beans declines in productivity, the next succession will kick into high gear.

Pole beans only need to be succession planted if you want greater yields over a longer harvest window. Their extended cropping negates the need for multiple plantings.

Staggering your bean plantings maximizes production in the growing space available.

Companion Planting for Increased Yields

Companion planting beans with certain other vegetables can boost overall yields per square foot.

Good green bean companions include:

Corn – Provides structural support for pole bean vines
Radishes – Deter pests like cucumber beetles
Marigolds – Repel nematodes and other bean pests
Beets, celery, onions – Enhance bean flavor

Avoid planting beans near chives, garlic, leeks or onions. The alliums can stunt bean growth.

To summarize key points on green bean yields:

Pole beans produce 50-150 beans per plant; bush beans about 20-25
Maximize per plant yields through optimal care and growing conditions
For space efficiency, bush beans often produce more per square foot
Plant 5-10 bush or 3-5 pole plants per person for adequate harvests
Pick frequently and succession plant for continuous bean production
Companion plant beans to increase yields and deter pests

Knowing approximate green been yields per plant helps you plan your garden space and bean harvests. With this guide, you can enjoy an abundant supply of homegrown green beans!

how many green beans does one plant produce

Planting Amounts Per Person

Plant yields can and will vary based on multiple factors including weather and variety chosen. My estimations are based on the lower end of yields.

Estimated tomato yield per plant is 5 pounds.
For fresh eating, plant 1/person. I recommend planting both cherry and slicing varieties.
Plant 1 for every quart and 1 for each person to eat in season. I think paste tomatoes are best for storing because they have less water and more flesh.
Every year, I try to grow 60 tomatoes in my garden, with 55 paste tomatoes, 2 cherry tomatoes, and 3 slicer tomatoes. I can expect about 50 quarts of canned tomatoes and a lot of fresh tomatoes from this.

About half a pound of bush green beans and a pound of pole beans will be grown from each plant. Bush beans bear faster but for less time. Pole beans produce longer but take longer to start bearing.
For fresh eating, plant 10 (bush)/person or 5 (pole)/person.
To store 50 pounds of green beans, plant 100 bush plants or 50 pole plants. When you plant a mix of bush and pole varieties, you can get the most harvest.
Most years, I plant about 12 bush beans and 30 or so pole beans in my garden. It gives you enough to eat right away and save some for the winter. We eat green beans once a month at most; they’re not our favorite food.

Estimated yield of 1 ear per plant.
For fresh eating, plant 6 – 10/person.
For preserving, plant 400 for 50 quarts.
We can’t plant enough sweet corn for a whole year. I plant an 8’x8′ block, and we have enough to freeze some.

Pumpkins (eating not decorative)

Estimated yield is 1 pumpkin per plant. Different kinds of pumpkins come in different sizes. My numbers are based on pumpkins that weigh 10 to 20 pounds.
For fresh eating, plant 3 – 4 pumpkins.
Plant one for every two quarts of puree you want to store OR one for every meal you plan to roast one for. If you keep them in the right way, many pumpkins can last for six months or more.
I love growing pumpkins and give them a lot of room. I always grow minis for fall decorations and a lot of different kinds to eat (usually C maxima). Most of the time, I freeze 12 quarts of pumpkin puree for us and feed our chickens, geese, and other animals.

Yield is at least 6 pounds per plant.
For fresh eating, plant 1 – 2 plants per adult.
Zucchini and other summer squash don’t store well. Freezing, dehydrating, or canning them into tomato sauces are your best bets.
I plant up to eight zucchini every year, but most years I only get around six. I have a lot of zucchini that I eat right away, and I also freeze a lot of it in zucchini bread.

Estimated yield is 3 pounds per plant.
For fresh eating, plant 1/person.
For preserving, plant 20 for 60 pounds.
We mostly grow sweet peppers, and every year I plant 10 to 12 of them. This gives us enough to eat right away and some extra to freeze.

We expect 5 to 8 fruits from Italian varieties and 10 to 15 fruits from Asian varieties.
For fresh eating, plant 1 – 2/person.
For preserving, plant 5 – 8/person.
Since I’m the only one in my family who likes eggplant, I only plant one or two every year.

Estimated yield is 4 pounds per plant.
For fresh eating, plant 1/person.
For preserving, plant 30 for 120 pounds.
We aren’t able to store a year’s worth of potatoes. I usually plant 10 – 12 potato plants.

About 1.6oz of shelled peas per plant.
For fresh eating, about 10 plants/person.
For preserving, plant 500 for 50 pounds of peas.
Half of the peas I plant are for the spring garden and the other half are for the fall garden.

Yield is 1 carrot per plant. The weight will depend on the variety.
For fresh eating, plant 10 – 15 per person.
For preserving, plant 250 – 300 for 50 pounds.
In our house, we don’t like carrots and only use them in soups, stews, and pot pies. We can get by on 30 carrots a year.

Estimated yield is 5 pounds per plant.
For fresh eating, plant 1/person.
For preserving, plant 10 for 50 quarts.
Only my husband eats cucumbers because I can’t handle raw cucumbers. We grow two plants for him and some extras to pickle.

Yield is 1 head per plant.
For fresh eating, plant 1-2/person.
For preserving, plant 10 – 15/person. These can only be preserved by freezing.
Most of the time, I plant 20 to 25 broccoli plants.

Yield is 1 head per plant. The cabbages will be different sizes, but I think they will be about 2 pounds each.
For fresh eating, plant 1-2/person.
For preserving, plant 8-10/person.
But we don’t eat a lot of cabbage, so I only plant eight of them a year. Four in the spring and four in the fall.

Yield is 1 bulb per plant. Different types of garlic have different sized cloves and different numbers of them.
For fresh eating, plant 5 – 10/person.
For preserving, plant 50/person. Most garlic can be stored for months in the pantry.
I don’t plant a certain amount of garlic; I just put cloves here and there in the garden.

Yield is 1 bulb per plant. The bulbs will be different sizes depending on the type.
For fresh eating, plant 5 – 10/person.
For preserving, plant 40 – 50/person. Choose a storage variety for longer pantry storage.
I usually plant 200 to 300 onions and take them out of the ground when I need them. At the end of the season, I take most of the bulbs out of the ground to store them.

Yield is 1 stalk per plant. How big a leek is will depend on the type and when you pick it.
For fresh eating, plant 5 – 10/person.
To preserve, plant 10 – 15/person. Preservation is by freezing.
For the winter, I try to plant 30 to 50 leeks in the fall.

Yield is 1 root per plant.
For fresh eating, plant 10 – 12/person.
Plant 20 radishes for every pint of pickled radishes you want to store.
We really enjoy roasted radishes, but I don’t plant a certain number. I just plant seeds in the early spring and late summer and harvest when I need to.

Yield is 1 root per plant.
For fresh eating, plant 10 – 12/person.
For preserving, plant 20 – 30/person. Turnips store best if frozen.
Like with radishes, I just plant the seeds twice a year and harvest them as needed.

A Farmer’s Guide to Mastering Growing Green Beans

FAQ

Do green bean plants keep producing?

Pole beans flower continuously, producing new pods all through the season, while bush beans tend to produce all their pods within one to three weeks. Fun Fact: Records of growing and eating beans have been found in Egyptian tombs and in the Old Testament.

How many green beans can I plant for a family of 4?

How many vegetable to plant for a family

Vegetable crop	Plants per 1 person	Plants per 4 People
Beans	10 to 15	40 to 45
Beets	10 to 12	40 to 48
Broccoli	1 to 2	4 to 6
Cabbage	2 to 3	8 to 10

What is the average yield of green beans?

A good yield of green beans is approximately 150 bushels/acre or 2.5-5 tons/acre. The fresh weight of a bushel is typically 30-35 pounds. Some half-runner beans can yield as much as 8-10 tons/acre. In general, each plant of half-runner beans produces about 0.5 pounds of marketable beans.

How many times can you harvest green beans?

Bush beans ripen all at once, so add a few more green bean plants every two weeks to stagger the harvest, and you’ll be able to pick fresh green beans through the fall. Pole beans produce for a month or two when they are regularly harvested.

How many green beans does a plant produce?

The amount of beans one plant will produce depends of the bean type and variety. As a rough guide, one bush bean plant will produce 6 ounces of green beans, while one pole bean plant will produce 8 ounces of green beans.

How big do green beans get?

Bush-type green beans grow into a thick bush that gets about 2 feet tall and 1 foot wide. Pole-type beans can grow up to 6 feet tall and need a trellis to support them. Plants start reproducing as soon as they are able to produce flowers, which are the reproductive part of the plant.

How do green beans grow?

Depending on what kind of green bean you planted, either a pole or a bush, the seedlings will start to grow upward. Depending on the variety, the young plant develops more leaves and matures into a bush or a pole-shaped adult plant that resembles a vine. Some varieties grow as ‘half-runners” and behave like a hybrid of bush and pole plants.

How many kilos of green beans are in a row?

In metric, a 30.5 meter row of bush beans, hosting 300 plants planted with 10 cm spacing, gives 54 kilos of green beans. And that’s 180 grams per plant, enough for 3 individual portions. If you grew one 10 foot (3 meter) row of bush beans with 30 plants, you could harvest 12 pounds (5.4 kilos) of beans.