# Green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Canonical: https://plantguide.ae/plants/green-beans · Updated: 2026-10-29
Source: Plant Guide (https://plantguide.ae/plants/green-beans)

Green beans · فاصوليا خضراء  
vegetable · exotic · family Fabaceae · grows 0.3–2.5 m tall, 0.2–0.5 m wide · fast growth  
full sun · moderate water need  
Ratings for Dubai (1–5, 5 is best): heat 2 · salt 1 · drought 2 · shade 1 · ease of care 4  
Sow or plant: Oct–Nov  
Uses: edible, container, climber

## Also known as

- **English:** French beans, String beans, Snap beans, Bush beans, Pole beans, Common bean
- **Arabic (العربية):** فاصوليا خضراء
- **Tamil (தமிழ்):** பச்சை அவரை (Pachai avarai)
- **Persian (فارسی):** لوبیا سبز (Lubia sabz)

A seed-sown crop for Dubai's mild weeks: sow in place in October and November, pick tender pods from December to March, and finish before April's heat brings blossom drop.

## About

Meet the green bean, the quiet producer of the winter bed. Sown in October, it comes up within days, climbs or bushes out over the next weeks, and starts putting out slim pods around the turn of the year.

Its character is tidy and generous, but with a short fuse for heat and salt. It wants to be sown once, in place, in a sweet, free-draining bed; it likes water at the roots, not over the leaves; and it stops flowering when the days warm in spring.

What it brings is a steady supply of tender pods for a dish, week after week, if you keep picking. A row of pole beans on a trellis gives more from less ground, and looks handsome beside a terrace or a fence.

Green beans are the unripe pods of the common bean, sold in the UAE as French beans or string beans. The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment's calendar lists beans with nursery sowing in October to November, field planting in October to November, and harvest 60 to 70 days later (a second figure of 30 to 40 days is also printed). Beans do not like being moved: UF/IFAS says to use seed rather than transplants, and for pole types to sow directly because the roots are weak. Sow where the plants will grow. Clemson Extension says not to plant until the soil is at least 60°F (16°C) at 4 inches deep, which Dubai's mean lows of 25°C in October and 21°C in November comfortably exceed.

Timing matters because beans drop their blossoms in heat. Clemson says blossom drop may be a problem above 90°F (32°C), and Dubai's average high is 35.9°C in October, 30.7°C in November and back to 33.7°C in April. Sown in October and November, beans flower through the cooler months of November to February, and are picked before the heat returns. Sow a short row every 10 to 14 days (Clemson) rather than one large planting, so pods arrive steadily instead of all at once.

UF/IFAS sows bush beans 1 to 2 inches deep and 2 to 3 inches apart in rows 18 to 30 inches apart, in at least eight hours of sun, and keeps the soil consistently moist until seed sprouts. It advises against soaking the seed first and against heavy feeding: half the rate used for other vegetables, since too much nitrogen gives leaf rather than beans. Pole beans yield more from the same ground (UF/IFAS: about 8 pounds from a 10-foot row against 4.5 for bush beans) and need a sturdy trellis put up before sowing. Beans are among the most salt-sensitive crops: FAO's threshold is only 1.0 dS/m, so use mains water and a low-salinity soil mix.

## Through the year

Green beans have one short, tidy season in Dubai. Seed is sown in place in October and November, with a new short row every 10 to 14 days. Flowers form through November to February, while the mean highs stay under about 31°C. Pods are ready 60 to 70 days after sowing, so picking runs from December to March. Aphids, thrips and whiteflies need watching from November to February. In April and May, mean highs of 34 to 38°C bring blossom drop, and the crop is pulled until the next autumn.

| When | What | Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Oct–Nov | Sow: Sow seed in place | Ministry calendar: October–November. Sow 2.5 cm deep and 5–8 cm apart in rows 45–75 cm apart (UF/IFAS bush beans), and repeat every 10–14 days (Clemson). |
| Dec–Mar | Harvest: Pick tender pods | Ministry calendar: 60–70 days to harvest; UF/IFAS: 50–60 days for bush beans and 50–70 for pole beans. Pick while pods are tender and the seeds cannot be seen swelling. |
| Nov–Feb | Pest watch: Aphids, thrips and whitefly | Clemson lists aphids and thrips on beans. Whiteflies and leafminers rank among the top insect pests on UAE vegetable farms. |
| Apr–May | Heat stress: Blossom drop in the heat | Clemson: above 90°F (32°C) blossom drop may be a problem. Dubai's mean high is 33.7°C in April and 38.2°C in May. |

## Care in Dubai

- **Watering in summer:** Not grown in summer; the Ministry's field window ends in November.
- **Watering in winter:** Water at the roots from a drip line finishing before 8 am (DEWA). Clemson says water matters most during pod set and pod development, and to wet the soil about 6 inches (15 cm) deep.
- **While establishing:** Keep the soil consistently moist until the seed sprouts (UF/IFAS), using mains water. Beans are the most salt-sensitive crop here.
- **Soil:** A raised bed of sweet soil blended with compost, with good drainage. UF/IFAS says weak roots mean shallow cultivation only. Do not use the garden's salty sand on its own.
- **Feeding:** UF/IFAS: use half the fertiliser rate you would use for other vegetables, and avoid excess nitrogen, which increases foliage and lowers yield.
- **Pruning:** No pruning. Pole beans need a sturdy trellis at least 6 to 8 feet tall (Clemson), installed before sowing (UF/IFAS).
- **Planting:** Sow seed 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep in October and November, with no pre-soaking (UF/IFAS), and repeat every 10 to 14 days. Do not transplant.
- **Pests and problems:** Aphids; Thrips; Whitefly; Leafminers; Cutworms
- **Toxicity:** Green beans are a normal food for people when cooked, and the ASPCA's vegetable-garden guide lists beans among garden crops that can be fed to pets as snacks in moderation. The ASPCA's plant list for dogs has no entry for the garden bean plant itself; its "castor bean" entry is an unrelated, toxic plant, so do not confuse the two.

## Good and bad

**Pros**
- Ministry calendar: sow October–November, pick in about 60–70 days
- Sown straight into the bed, with no transplanting (UF/IFAS)
- Pole beans give more from the same ground: 8 lb against 4.5 lb from a 10-ft row (UF/IFAS)
- A light feeder: half the usual fertiliser rate (UF/IFAS)
- Succession rows every 10–14 days keep pods coming (Clemson)

**Cons**
- One of the most salt-sensitive vegetables: FAO threshold only 1.0 dS/m
- Blossoms drop above about 32°C, so the season ends by April
- Weak roots dislike transplanting and deep cultivation (UF/IFAS)
- Pole types need a sturdy trellis in place before sowing
- Aphids, thrips and whiteflies are common visitors

## Common mistakes

- Transplanting seedlings. UF/IFAS says beans have weak roots and do not do well as transplants, so sow in place.
- Using salty or recycled water. FAO's threshold for beans is only 1.0 dS/m, the lowest of the crops in this group.
- Soaking the seed first. UF/IFAS says it is not necessary and can hurt germination.
- Feeding like a tomato. UF/IFAS says to use half the usual rate, since too much nitrogen gives leaf rather than beans.
- Sowing late. Clemson says blossom drop is a problem above 32°C, and Dubai's April average is 33.7°C, so sow by November.

## Good to know

- Green beans are the young, unripe pods of common bean cultivars (Wikipedia). Bush and pole (climbing) types are both grown.
- UF/IFAS: bush beans are ready in 50 to 60 days and pole beans in 50 to 70; the Ministry gives 60 to 70.
- Clemson recommends picking in the early morning, before the swelling seed can be seen through the pod.
- In the Philippines, "sitaw" usually means the yardlong bean, a different plant, so it is not listed here as a name for green beans.

## Using it in a garden

Roles: Raised-bed vegetable, Trellis climber, Kitchen-garden staple, Container crop

Give beans a sunny bed with a trellis or a wigwam of canes along the north edge, so they do not shade shorter crops, and a drip line on a timer. UF/IFAS asks for at least eight hours of sun. Keep them near the kitchen so pods are picked young and often.

- [Lettuce](https://plantguide.ae/plants/lettuce.md): A cool-season salad crop sown in the same weeks, which can use the bed's edge while the beans climb.
- [Coriander](https://plantguide.ae/plants/coriander.md): Another quick crop with an October–November sowing window, so it fits the same bed and drip line.

## FAQ

**When should I sow green beans in Dubai?**  
The Ministry's calendar gives October to November, both for nursery sowing and field planting. Sow the seed where the plants will grow, and repeat every 10 to 14 days.

**Bush or pole beans?**  
Bush beans are compact and ready sooner (UF/IFAS 50 to 60 days). Pole beans take 50 to 70 days and need a trellis, but give more per area, about 8 pounds from a 10-foot row against 4.5 for bush beans.

**Why are my bean flowers falling off?**  
Heat is the usual cause. Clemson says blossom drop may be a problem above 90°F (32°C), and Dubai's April average high is 33.7°C. Sowing in October and November means the flowers open in the cooler months.

**Can I grow beans in a pot?**  
Yes, in a deep pot of sweet soil and compost with a cane wigwam for pole beans, in at least eight hours of sun (UF/IFAS). Do not transplant seedlings; sow in the pot.

**How salty is too salty for beans?**  
Beans are sensitive: FAO puts the yield-loss threshold at 1.0 dS/m, the lowest of the vegetables in this group. Use mains water and low-salinity soil.

**Are green beans safe for pets?**  
The ASPCA lists beans among garden vegetables that can be given as snacks in moderation. Do not confuse them with castor bean, which is toxic.

## Related plants

[Peas](https://plantguide.ae/plants/peas.md) · [Lettuce](https://plantguide.ae/plants/lettuce.md) · [Coriander](https://plantguide.ae/plants/coriander.md) · [Carrot](https://plantguide.ae/plants/carrot.md) · [Tomato](https://plantguide.ae/plants/tomato.md)

## Photos

![Dwarf French bean plants supported by canes in a garden bed](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/58/-2020-06-24_Dwarf_french_beans_%28Phaseolus_vulgaris%29%2C_Trimingham%2C_Norfolk.JPG)  
Photo: Kolforn / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:-2020-06-24_Dwarf_french_beans_(Phaseolus_vulgaris),_Trimingham,_Norfolk.JPG))

![Harvest of purple and green bean pods (Phaseolus vulgaris) laid out on a board](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1c/-2020-08-02_Bobby_bean_harvest_%28Phaseolus_vulgaris%29%2C_Trimingham%2C_Norfolk.JPG)  
Photo: Kolforn / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:-2020-08-02_Bobby_bean_harvest_(Phaseolus_vulgaris),_Trimingham,_Norfolk.JPG))

![A bowl of freshly picked green French beans](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/76/FrenchBeans.JPG)  
Photo: Simon Speed / CC0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:FrenchBeans.JPG))

## Sources

- [UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment: Dates for Planting Vegetables and Fruits in the UAE](https://moccae.gov.ae/assets/download/56f7a89b/agriculture_calender_page_en.pdf.aspx)
- [Wikipedia: Climate of Dubai (Dubai International Airport, 1991 to 2020 normals)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_Dubai)
- [UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: Bush Beans](https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/vegetables/bush-beans/)
- [UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: Pole Beans](https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/vegetables/pole-beans/)
- [Clemson Cooperative Extension: Bush and pole type snap beans](https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/bush-pole-type-snap-beans/)
- [FAO: Crop salt tolerance data (Annex 1)](https://www.fao.org/4/y4263e/y4263e0e.htm)
- [The Arabian Post (from The National): From seed to harvest, advice for gardeners in the UAE](https://thearabianpost.com/from-seed-to-harvest-some-essential-advice-for-gardeners-in-the-uae/)
- [DEWA: Irrigation advice](https://www.dewa.gov.ae/en/consumer/sustainability/sustainability-and-conservation/irrigation)
- [Kaakeh et al. (2007): Assessment of pest and pesticide trends in vegetable crops in the UAE and Sultanate of Oman](https://research.uaeu.ac.ae/en/publications/assessment-of-pest-and-pesticide-trends-in-vegetable-crops-in-the/)
- [ASPCA: Pets and produce, top tips on vegetable garden safety](https://www.aspca.org/news/pets-and-produce-top-tips-vegetable-garden-safety)
- [POWO (Kew Plants of the World Online): Phaseolus vulgaris](https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:514191-1)
- [Wikipedia: Green bean](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_bean)
- [Arabic Wikipedia: فاصوليا خضراء](https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%88%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A7_%D8%AE%D8%B6%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A1)
- [Tamil Wikipedia: பச்சை அவரை](https://ta.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%AE%AA%E0%AE%9A%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9A%E0%AF%88_%E0%AE%85%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%88)
- [Persian Wikipedia: لوبیا سبز](https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%84%D9%88%D8%A8%DB%8C%D8%A7_%D8%B3%D8%A8%D8%B2)
- [Wiktionary: sitaw (Tagalog, yardlong bean)](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/sitaw)