stringy green beans - Ask Extension
I live in Weld County and am having issues with stringy green beans. I have planted Burpee organic Kentucky Wonder (stringless) pole beans. It seems...
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stringy green beans #880256
Asked August 05, 2024, 12:55 PM EDT
I live in Weld County and am having issues with stringy green beans. I have planted Burpee organic Kentucky Wonder (stringless) pole beans. It seems to only be effecting some of the beans. I switched to pole beans (Blue Lake) last year to keep the rabbits from eating my bush beans and they were tough and stringy as well. They are fenced in. We irrigate using a drip line every other day. I have also been trying to pick the beans earlier this year. I do use Miracle grow about 3 times during the season. A local greenhouse suggested it could be a lack of nitrogen and/or not rotating my crop. I would appreciate any suggestions. Thank you.
Weld County Colorado
Expert Response
Tammie,
Thank you for your question about stringy green beans. And, thank you for your patience.
To address your specific issue, I found these pieces very helpful with effective approaches you can consider. Quotes are coming from these articles:
https://extension.usu.edu/yardandgarden/research/beans-in-the-garden
https://extension.sdstate.edu/green-beans-how-grow-it#:~:text=Major%20Diseases&text=More%20common%20in%20plantings%20with,can%20help%20reduce%20these%20diseases.
Water: You are using a drip system every other day but did not mention how much water your drip is actually providing. Questions: do you know how much water it is actually going to the beans and is it reaching all the plants? Beans need at least one inch of water a week. "Drought stress during and after flowering will decrease yield due to flower abortion and reduce pod size and increase stringiness".
Mulch: You did not mention using mulch so please consider using organic mulch at planting time and maintaining it throughout the growing season to provide natural nutrients and moderate both soil temps and moisture levels.
Plant bush beans continuously through gardening season: If you have the space, consider planting both pole and bush beans. Pole beans produce beans throughout the season rather within one to three weeks as bush beans do. Consider planting a first crop of bush beans a week before last frost (about May 15 in Weld County) and then again "...every 14 to 21 days until mid July." This will provide more crop rotations for you to "pick" from.
It is suggested to rotate placement of bean crops each year.
Fertilizer: You may be over-fertilizing your beans. Beans are legumes and are able to produce their own nitrogen."Beans do not require additional fertilizer if an all-purpose fertilizer and compost was applied at planting. Adding more nitrogen stimulates excessive leaf growth, delay flowering and reduce pod set".
You did not mention how often you pick your beans. Consider doing it daily and pick beans that are "...plump and full but before seeds develop". Letting beans get too mature will increase stringy pods.
Hope this helps. Please let us know if you have any other questions.
Ruth, Weld County Colorado Master Gardener
Thank you for your question about stringy green beans. And, thank you for your patience.
To address your specific issue, I found these pieces very helpful with effective approaches you can consider. Quotes are coming from these articles:
https://extension.usu.edu/yardandgarden/research/beans-in-the-garden
https://extension.sdstate.edu/green-beans-how-grow-it#:~:text=Major%20Diseases&text=More%20common%20in%20plantings%20with,can%20help%20reduce%20these%20diseases.
Water: You are using a drip system every other day but did not mention how much water your drip is actually providing. Questions: do you know how much water it is actually going to the beans and is it reaching all the plants? Beans need at least one inch of water a week. "Drought stress during and after flowering will decrease yield due to flower abortion and reduce pod size and increase stringiness".
Mulch: You did not mention using mulch so please consider using organic mulch at planting time and maintaining it throughout the growing season to provide natural nutrients and moderate both soil temps and moisture levels.
Plant bush beans continuously through gardening season: If you have the space, consider planting both pole and bush beans. Pole beans produce beans throughout the season rather within one to three weeks as bush beans do. Consider planting a first crop of bush beans a week before last frost (about May 15 in Weld County) and then again "...every 14 to 21 days until mid July." This will provide more crop rotations for you to "pick" from.
It is suggested to rotate placement of bean crops each year.
Fertilizer: You may be over-fertilizing your beans. Beans are legumes and are able to produce their own nitrogen."Beans do not require additional fertilizer if an all-purpose fertilizer and compost was applied at planting. Adding more nitrogen stimulates excessive leaf growth, delay flowering and reduce pod set".
You did not mention how often you pick your beans. Consider doing it daily and pick beans that are "...plump and full but before seeds develop". Letting beans get too mature will increase stringy pods.
Hope this helps. Please let us know if you have any other questions.
Ruth, Weld County Colorado Master Gardener
