How to Grow Black Valentine Bush Bean
Phaseolus vulgaris 'Black Valentine'
Black Valentine Bush Bean is an easy-to-grow heirloom variety prized for its reliable production in warm conditions. Gardeners value this plant for its robust disease resistance and ability to thrive once soil temperatures rise sufficiently.
📷 Wikipedia: Phaseolus vulgarisStarting Black Valentine Bush Bean: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Black Valentine Bush Bean is not usually started indoors.
Direct sow seeds outdoors only after all danger of frost has passed and soil temperatures have warmed sufficiently for germination.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5 before sowing. As a warm-season crop, you must wait until after the last spring frost when the ground is fully warm; do not plant early. Sow seeds directly into the garden at a depth of about one inch. Expect germination to occur within seven to fourteen days under these ideal conditions.
Space plants four to six inches apart in rows to ensure good air circulation. While bush beans often grow without extensive support, you may add light stakes if vines become unruly. Provide one inch of water weekly, reducing frequency once the plant is established and drought tolerant. Apply mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Watch for bean leaf beetles, aphids, cucumber beetles, and flea beetles; hand-pick or use row covers early. Rust and bacterial blight are possible issues, though this variety shows general resistance. Harvest pods fifty to sixty days after sowing when they are tender and before seeds fully develop inside the pod.
When to Plant Black Valentine Bush Bean
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | — | July – August | September – August |
| Zone 2 | — | June – August | September |
| Zone 3 | — | June – July | August – October |
| Zone 4 | — | June – July | August – October |
| Zone 5 | — | May – June | August – September |
| Zone 6 | — | May – June | July – September |
| Zone 7 | — | April – June | July – August |
| Zone 8 | — | April – May | June – August |
| Zone 9 | — | March – April | May – July |
| Zone 10 | — | February – April | May – June |
| Zone 11 | — | January – March | April – May |
| Zone 12 | — | January – March | April – May |
| Zone 13 | — | January – March | April – May |
Companion Plants for Black Valentine Bush Bean
✓ Good companions
Helps loosen soil for bean roots and doesn't compete for nitrogen
Provides natural support structure and benefits from nitrogen fixation
Compatible root systems and both benefit from similar growing conditions
Repels Mexican bean beetles, aphids, and nematodes while attracting beneficial insects
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, deters bean beetles
Quick harvest doesn't compete long-term and helps break up soil
Repels bean beetles and other pests with aromatic compounds
Large leaves provide ground cover and moisture retention, part of Three Sisters planting
✗ Keep away from
May stunt bean growth and interfere with beneficial rhizobia bacteria
Can inhibit bean growth and nitrogen fixation through allelopathic compounds
Allelopathic effects can reduce bean germination and growth
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
