A good harvest of green beans can make or break your summer meal and canning plans. If you have a background in gardening, you may already know that this plant produces nitrogen. However, nitrogen alone isn’t enough. That’s why your green beans need fertilizer to help keep them nourished through their growing season.
The type of soil where you live can help determine how well your green beans will grow. If you live in a place where the soil doesn’t have enough nutrients, they won’t do well. That’s where fertilizer comes in. Depending on where you live, properly balanced fertilizer can be essential to the growth of your plant.
If you want to use fertilizer to make your soil better for growing green beans or just want a bigger, better vegetable crop that comes back every year, keep reading to find out about the best fertilizers for green beans.
Green beans are a popular vegetable to grow in home gardens. With their crisp texture and sweet grassy flavor fresh green beans are a tasty addition to many summer meals. Proper fertilization is key to getting a good harvest of green beans. Using the right type and amount of fertilizer will help your plants grow vigorously and produce an abundant crop.
Overview of Fertilizer Needs for Green Beans
Green beans prefer soil with a slightly acidic pH around 65 Getting the pH in the optimal range helps beans access nutrients from the soil. Before planting, it’s a good idea to test your soil and adjust the pH if needed by applying lime to raise pH or sulfur to lower pH.
In terms of nutrients green beans need moderate levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. They also need smaller amounts of secondary nutrients like calcium, magnesium, and sulfur. Trace nutrients like iron, manganese, boron, copper, zinc and molybdenum are essential for optimal growth.
A soil test will provide specific recommendations for your garden’s soil. General guidelines for fertilizing green beans are 1 pound of nitrogen, phosphate, and potash per 100 square feet. This equates to a fertilizer ratio around 5-10-10.
Organic fertilizers like compost, bone meal, blood meal, fish emulsion, and manure can provide a slow release of nutrients. Chemical fertilizers tend to provide nutrients in a more rapid and concentrated way. Using a combination of both organic and chemical fertilizer is a good approach.
Types of Fertilizer for Green Beans
There are many effective fertilizer options for nourishing green bean plants. Consider the following types of fertilizer:
Granular Fertilizers
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Granular fertilizers come in bags or boxes of dry pellets. They are applied by scattering evenly over the soil before planting.
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Granular fertilizers release nutrients more slowly. This provides a constant feeding over the growing season.
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Choose a granular fertilizer with an NPK ratio like 5-10-10 or 10-10-10 based on soil test recommendations.
Liquid Fertilizers
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Liquid fertilizers come concentrated. They are mixed with water and applied to soil using a watering can or hose end sprayer.
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Liquid fertilizer provides rapid nutrient uptake. It’s easy to foliar feed plants by spraying leaves.
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Fish emulsion and seaweed extract are organic liquid options. Chemical choices include Miracle-Gro and Peters Excel.
Compost and Manures
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Compost, animal manures, grass clippings and other organic matter fertilize soil naturally as they decompose.
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Compost and manures release small amounts of nutrients over an extended period. They also improve soil texture.
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Compost and manure tend to be lower in nutrients than chemical fertilizers. Supplement with other organic or chemical fertilizer.
Fertilizer Spikes
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Fertilizer spikes are sticks pushed into the ground around plants to release nutrients.
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Each spike feeds a limited root zone. Use a number of spikes around each plant for best results.
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Choose spikes formulated for vegetables like Jobe’s Organic Vegetable Spikes.
When to Fertilize Green Beans
Proper timing of fertilizer applications is important to support growth and production:
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Fertilize 1-2 weeks before planting green beans by working fertilizer into the top 6 inches of soil.
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Side dress beans 3-4 weeks after germination by applying fertilizer in bands a few inches from plants.
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Make a second side dressing when plants start flowering to support pod production.
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Avoid late season fertilizer which can inhibit ripening and reduce quality.
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Additional light fertilizations may be needed for long producing bush bean varieties.
How to Fertilize Green Beans
Follow these tips to successfully fertilize your green bean patch:
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Read fertilizer labels closely and follow package instructions.
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Use small quantities of fertilizer and reapply if plants need a nutrient boost. It’s better to under fertilize than over fertilize.
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For granular fertilizers, spread evenly over soil and water in thoroughly after applying.
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For liquid fertilizers, mix with water in a watering can or hose end sprayer. Soak soil around plants avoiding contact with foliage.
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Place fertilizer spikes 6-8 inches from plant stems, pushing fully into soil. Use 5-6 spikes per plant.
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Focus on fertilizing the root zone, not plant leaves. Foliar feeding should only supply micronutrients.
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Apply fertilizer when the soil is moist but not soaking wet. Avoid fertilizing just before heavy rain.
Organic vs Chemical Fertilizers
You can use organic or chemical fertilizers effectively for green beans:
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Organic fertilizers like compost and manure release nutrients slowly through decomposition and microbial action.
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Chemical fertilizers deliver a more concentrated dose of nutrients that is rapidly available to plants.
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Organic fertilizers improve soil structure and microbial life. Chemicals provide reliable nutrition regardless of soil conditions.
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Consider a combination approach using moderate amounts of organic matter supplemented with chemical fertilizer to optimize plant growth and yield.
Signs Your Beans Need More Fertilizer
Monitor your plants and watch for these signs of nutrient deficiency:
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Slow, stunted growth
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Pale leaves
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Yellowing older leaves
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Small number of pods
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Poor pod filling
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Low yields
Plants showing deficiency signs will likely benefit from prompt fertilization. Just be careful not to over fertilize which can also cause leaf burn or other problems.
Key Takeaways
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Test soil and adjust pH to around 6.5 before planting green beans.
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Use a balanced fertilizer with an NPK ratio near 5-10-10 based on soil test results.
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Time fertilizer applications before planting, at 3-4 weeks after sprouting, and again at flowering.
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Both organic and chemical fertilizer can fulfill nutrient needs if used properly.
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Look for signs of deficiency like slow growth and yellowing leaves to know when to fertilize.
Choosing and applying the right type of fertilizer for your green bean crop will set your plants up for vigorous growth and maximum pod production. Paying close attention to fertilization best practices makes growing a bountiful harvest of crisp, flavorful beans easy.
Miracle-Gro Shake n’ Feed
- Natural ingredients.
- Guaranteed not to burn your plants.
- Suitable for in-ground and potted plants.
- Provides three months’ worth of nutrients.
- Long shelf life.
- Requires watering after application.
- Strengthens roots.
It’s hard to go wrong with a household name like Miracle-Gro. Their all-purpose Shake’n Feed will feed your green beans slowly but steadily for up to three months.
By using this fertilizer, your plants will benefit from having nourishment above and below ground. Because Shake n’ Feed encourages microbes to break down its ingredients, you can expect a bigger, better harvest. Thus, your beans will develop stronger roots.
To use, lightly shake this dry stuff into the soil before you plant or next to the plant after you plant it. Then, use a garden rake to mix the fertilizer into the first 1 – 3 inches of soil.
Miracle-Gro All Purpose Plant Food
- Apply with water.
- Safe for all plants and trees.
- Can apply every 7 – 14 days.
- Strong nutrient concentration.
- Won’t burn plants if used correctly.
- Works with Miracle-Gro Garden Feeder.
- 1 gallon per 10 square feet.
Dry fertilizer has its advantages. However, Miracle-Gro’s All-Purpose product is a great choice if you need to fertilize a big green bean garden quickly.
We love this fertilizer because you can connect your hose to a Miracle-Gro Garden Feeder, and the feeder will mix the water with the right amount of powder fertilizer on its own. It doesn’t get easier than that!.
You can also mix the powder into a watering can and use that to feed your plants if you’re only growing a few. Technically, you can use this all-purpose Miracle-Gro as frequently as every seven days. However, since green beans produce their own nitrogen, like all fertilizers, we recommend using it sparingly.
What is the best fertilizer for green beans?
FAQ
What is the best fertilizer for peas and beans?
How do you make green beans grow better?
How can I increase the yield of my green beans?
Do coffee grounds help green beans?
What fertilizer should I use for green beans?
Green beans are different from other garden crops because they can produce nitrogen so there is no need to use a Nitrogen-high fertilizer. It would be better to use low-nitrogen 5-10-10 fertilizer or 6-12-12 fertilizer. You can also use non-chemical organic fertilizers from compost, bone meal, or well-rotted manure.
How do you fertilize green beans?
Do a soil test to determine the status so you can know if there are any deficiencies in essential nutrients. Homemade fertilization of green beans can be derived using organic materials such as fish emulsion, compost tea, as well as other organic fertilizers. Here are some major fertilizers that tend to increase the growth rate of beans:
How often should you fertilize green beans?
You can fertilize and apply some organic matter to them at least once a month during the growing season. Green beans are different from other garden crops because they can produce nitrogen so there is no need to use a Nitrogen-high fertilizer. It would be better to use low-nitrogen 5-10-10 fertilizer or 6-12-12 fertilizer.
How do you fertilize green beans without a tiller?
If you don’t have a tiller, get ready for a workout; Espoma recommends mixing their granular fertilizer into the top four or five inches of your soil. Alternatively, you can mix in a little fertilizer with your potted green beans. sults in seven days.