Green Beans

Green beans account for almost 200,000 acres of crops grown in the United States, with Wisconsin as the country’s leading producer. On average, one acre produces between 250 to 300 bushels of green beans at harvest.

A green bean crop prefers well-drained soils with a pH between 6.0 and 6.8. Green beans do not like continuous moisture in the root zone but require adequate water for pod-set, so sandy soils with irrigation are preferred for high yields. Green beans have a shallow root system. Due to the shallowness, a complete nutrient program must be implemented to maximize crop quality and yield at harvest. Unlike other legumes, green beans do not have the ability to fix enough nitrogen to support a good crop, requiring supplemental nitrogen to be applied. Manganese deficiency is common in green beans, especially in soils with pH over 6.5.