How to Grow Bush Lake Bean
Phaseolus vulgaris 'Bush Lake'
Bush Lake Bean is a reliable warm-season variety of Phaseolus vulgaris prized for its ease of cultivation and resistance to common bean mosaic virus. Gardeners favor this bush-type legume for producing tender pods quickly, making it an excellent choice for summer harvests in zones 2 through 11.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Bush Lake Bean: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Bush Lake Bean is not usually started indoors.
Direct sow seeds outdoors only after the last frost date once soil temperatures have warmed sufficiently; do not start indoors or transplant seedlings.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare your soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 to ensure optimal nutrient availability. Since beans are frost-sensitive warm-season crops, you must wait until after the last spring frost when the ground is fully warmed before sowing directly outdoors. Plant seeds about one inch deep in well-drained soil; they typically sprout within seven to ten days under these warm conditions.
Space your Bush Lake plants four to six inches apart to encourage healthy air circulation and pod development. As a bush variety, this type generally does not require tall trellises or extra support structures. Provide one inch of water per week, focusing on the soil rather than wetting the foliage to prevent disease. Apply mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds throughout the growing season.
Watch for Mexican bean beetles and spider mites, which can damage leaves; monitor regularly and use organic controls if infestations appear. Rust, anthracnose, and bacterial blight may also occur, so avoid overhead watering to keep foliage dry. Harvest pods fifty to fifty-five days after sowing when they are young and tender for the best flavor and texture.
When to Plant Bush Lake 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 Bush Lake Bean
✓ Good companions
Deters aphids, spider mites, and thrips while potentially improving bean flavor
Loosens soil for bean roots and doesn't compete for nutrients
Provides natural support structure for climbing varieties and benefits from nitrogen fixation
Provides ground cover and shade for bean roots while utilizing different soil nutrients
Repels bean beetles, aphids, and nematodes while attracting beneficial insects
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles while adding nitrogen to soil
Breaks up compacted soil and deters bean beetles without competing for space
Ground cover reduces weeds, retains moisture, and completes the Three Sisters planting
✗ Keep away from
Stunts bean growth and development through root secretions
Inhibits bean growth through allelopathic compounds and competes for nutrients
Allelopathic effects inhibit bean germination and early growth
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
