How to Grow Lazy Housewife Pole Bean
Phaseolus vulgaris 'Lazy Housewife'
Lazy Housewife Pole Beans are an easy-to-moderate difficulty heirloom variety perfect for adding protein to your garden. These warm-season legumes thrive in full sun and offer a reliable harvest of tender pods within two months.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Lazy Housewife Pole Bean: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Lazy Housewife Pole Bean is not usually started indoors.
Direct sow seeds outdoors only after the last frost date once soil temperatures have warmed sufficiently.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 before sowing seeds directly outdoors. You must wait until after the last spring frost when the soil is warm enough to prevent shock. Plant seeds 1 to 2 inches deep; they typically germinate within 7 to 14 days under these ideal conditions.
Space plants 4 to 6 inches apart and provide a sturdy trellis or pole for support as the vines climb. Water deeply once or twice weekly, aiming for 1 to 1.5 inches total per week. Apply mulch around the base to retain moisture and feed regularly with balanced fertilizer during heavy fruiting.
Watch for bean beetles, aphids, spider mites, and weevils; encourage beneficial insects or use organic sprays if infestations occur. Prevent fungal diseases like white mold by ensuring good air circulation. Harvest tender pods 70 to 80 days after sowing when they are young and crisp.
When to Plant Lazy Housewife Pole Bean
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | — | July – August | October – August |
| Zone 2 | — | June – August | October – September |
| Zone 3 | — | June – July | September – October |
| Zone 4 | — | June – July | September – October |
| Zone 5 | — | May – June | August – October |
| Zone 6 | — | May – June | August – October |
| Zone 7 | — | April – June | August – September |
| Zone 8 | — | April – May | July – September |
| Zone 9 | — | March – April | June – August |
| Zone 10 | — | February – April | June – July |
| Zone 11 | — | January – March | May – June |
| Zone 12 | — | January – March | May – June |
| Zone 13 | — | January – March | May – June |
Companion Plants for Lazy Housewife Pole Bean
✓ Good companions
Benefit from nitrogen fixed by beans, help break up soil
Provides natural support structure for climbing beans while beans fix nitrogen for corn
Grows well in partial shade of bean plants, efficient space usage
Repel Mexican bean beetles and other harmful insects
Act as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles
Fast-growing root crop that doesn't compete with beans for space
Part of Three Sisters planting, provides ground cover and weed suppression
Repels bean beetles and may improve bean flavor when grown nearby
✗ Keep away from
Allelopathic compounds can stunt bean growth and development
Can inhibit bean growth and nitrogen fixation capabilities
Compete heavily for nutrients and water, can shade out beans
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
