Fertilize beans: professional tips for correct fertilization

Not all beans need extra nutrients after planting. We show which beans need them and what needs to be considered when fertilizing.

If kidney beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) or broad beans (Vicia faba) (also called broad beans) – Beans should not be missing in any garden. They provide valuable vegetable protein and are good for the garden soil. They like it sunny and warm in the garden and prefer a humus-rich and deep soil. If you pay attention, you should get a rich one Bean Harvest be certain. But in addition to the right location and the ideal soil, a good supply of nutrients also plays a decisive role in the yield, because not all beans have the same nutrient requirements. And some species even require almost no fertilization at all.

So do you have to fertilize beans at all? And when do you fertilize them? Which fertilizers are suitable and what is the best way to proceed? We have answered these questions for you in this article.

Do you have to fertilize beans?

Beans belong to the legume family (Fabaceae) and are legumes. Legumes have the wonderful property of entering into a symbiosis with nodule bacteria. These are able to fix atmospheric nitrogen and make it accessible to the plant. This means that nitrogen-poor soils are improved and soil fertility is maintained. Do you then have to fertilize beans at all?

Before beans can provide themselves with nitrogen, the plants should be helped through the first starvation period after planting. As soon as it is a hand's breadth high, the bean creates the nitrogen supply on its own. Furthermore, beans not only need nitrogen, but also other important nutrients to grow, such as phosphorus and potassium. Therefore, fertilization can be very useful.

In addition, not all beans are created equal when it comes to their requirements. The low-growing bush beans (Phaseolus vulgaris var. nope) are weak consumers and therefore very frugal. They no longer need fertilizer after planting. The climbing and high growing pole beans (Phaseolus vulgaris var. vulgaris), on the other hand, belong to the medium eaters and are a bit more demanding. They also want to be fertilized a little during the growing season and will then give you a rich harvest.

When to fertilize beans?

Beans can be grown both outdoors and in a greenhouse or in a pot. Already at planting the beans you should make sure to enrich the soil with sufficient nutrients. In a site with poor soil, you can top off the soil with mature compost or enrich it with a fertilizer with an organic long-term effect. With our Plantura organic tomato fertilizer create optimal conditions for your beans to grow from the outset. This not only has a positive and gentle effect on beans of all kinds, but also on the soil and the animals in your garden. The granules of our Plantura fertilizer is dissolved by adding water when watering and is then decomposed by industrious microorganisms in the soil. These make the nutrients available to the plant and release them slowly and gently to the plant.

Bush beans and field beans then no longer require fertilization. Now the nitrogen-fixing bacteria are active and supply the plants with nutrients. The situation is different with runner beans. They appreciate extra fertilizer during the growing season. Here you can fertilize again at the first flowering. If necessary, the crops are then fertilized again until harvest.

When are beans fertilized?

• All beans: basic fertilization in the spring when planting in the garden
• Bush and field beans: No further fertilization
• Runner Beans: After flowering and again as needed until harvest

Fertilize beans in the bed

From mid-May, after the ice saints, you can plant the frost-sensitive beans in the garden bed. Beans feel comfortable in the greenhouse from mid-April. Even if bush beans and field beans need few nutrients, basic fertilization before planting is part of it. This is absolutely necessary for the runner beans. In order to be able to fix nitrogen really well, the nodule bacteria need sufficient phosphorus. This is provided by the basic fertilization when planting in the garden.

So prepare the soil well for the beans before planting. Give some fertilizer in granular form - for example our Plantura Organic Tomato Fertilizer – into the planting hole and do not forget to water sufficiently. You can also add something to particularly lean or poorly structured soils compost enrich. These natural fertilizers not only provide your beans with valuable nutrients, but also contribute to improve the soil structure and thus also the water retention capacity and heat storage of the soil at.

Field and French beans no longer need any further fertilization from now on. Fertilize pole beans again after flowering. Depending on requirements, the runner beans can then be supplied with a small amount of fertilizer again after about six to eight weeks.

How are beans in the bed fertilized?

• When planting out, provide the beans with long-acting organic fertilizer
• Work compost into the soil on poor, unstructured soil
• Pour well so that the granules can dissolve
• Fertilize pole beans with a little fertilizer after flowering
• If necessary, another application of fertilizer after 6 - 8 weeks

Fertilize the beans in the pot

If the substrate that you use in the pot or balcony box is not already pre-fertilized, it makes sense to nutrient the substrate before planting or sowing to enrich Simply use a long-term fertilizer in granular form - such as ours Plantura organic tomato fertilizer - into the substrate. After planting or sowing, water the substrate well so that the little plants can develop well and the granules can dissolve.

In the pot, too, bush beans and field beans are satisfied with the basic fertilization and grow very well without further doses. But just like in the bed, runner beans in the pot need to be fertilized throughout the growing season. The first fertilizer is applied after flowering. Depending on the type of fertilizer you choose, the fertilization intervals vary. With a fertilizer with an organic long-term effect like our Plantura Organic Tomato Fertilizer it is sufficient if you fertilize again in small quantities every five to seven weeks. With a mineral liquid fertilizer, the intervals are shorter, every three to five weeks it should be fertilized again.

How are beans fertilized in the pot?

• Work in some slow-release fertilizer when planting
• Keep the substrate moist so that the granules can dissolve
• Do not fertilize bush beans and broad beans anymore
• Fertilize runner beans every 5-7 weeks with slow release organic fertilizer
• Alternatively, fertilize every 3 - 5 weeks with a mineral liquid fertilizer

The right fertilizer for beans

Which fertilizer is used for your beans is of course up to you. After all, there are many different ways you can get the most nutrition from your beans. To help you make your decision, we have summarized some aspects below that you should consider when choosing a fertilizer.

Fertilize beans primarily organically

If pole beans are not fertilized enough, this has a negative effect on the harvest. Over-fertilization or an unbalanced and incorrect nutrient supply harms both the plant and the environment. In addition, the nodule bacteria on the roots of all types of beans need sufficient nutrients to be able to fix enough nitrogen. For this purpose, phosphorus should be available for as long as possible – even after fertilization. A fertilizer with an organic long-term effect offers a great advantage in these aspects. Thanks to the granulate form, it can be dosed well and thus reduces the risk of over-fertilization. Due to the long-term effect, the phosphorus and other nutrients are gradually released and are available to both the plant and the bacteria for longer.

Other advantages of fertilizer with an organic long-term effect:

• Activation of soil life and sustainable improvement of soil structure
• Particularly gentle on the environment by not using chemicals

Our Plantura Organic Tomato Fertilizer with organic long-term effect meets these criteria to your complete satisfaction and thus offers the ideal nutrient supply for your beans. In addition to nitrogen, it also contains sufficient potassium and phosphorus. These are responsible for good root formation and the resilience of the beans. In addition, the fertilizer is particularly resource-friendly and sustainable thanks to the use of residues from the food, luxury food and animal feed industries. By not using synthetic ingredients, the fertilizer is also climate-friendly.

Fertilization with organic long-term effect - instructions and dosage amounts for beans:

1. Before planting: 15-35 g/m² (1-3 tablespoons) of ours Plantura organic tomato fertilizer Work into the top layers of soil or mix about 1g/litre (1/4 teaspoon) into the substrate for a pot culture
2. Water the base well after inserting it so that the granules can loosen
3. In the case of runner beans, you should add another 10 - 30 g/m² (1 to 2 heaped tablespoons) or Fertilize about 1 g/litre for a pot culture
4. Repeat this application of fertilizer in the garden bed after 6 - 8 months, in the pot after 5 - 7 weeks

Fertilize beans with minerals

blue grain, liquid fertilizer and Co. offer the advantage that the nutrients from the fertilizer are immediately available for the plants and do not have to be converted by bacteria first, are for beans mineral fertilizers but not suitable. Most of the time, they contain far too much nitrogen, which the beans don't even need. The superfluous nutrients cannot be absorbed and then pollute the soil and the water. Ultimately, this also damages the plant. Organic Fertilizers with a long-term effect, on the other hand, beans provide all the important nutrients over a longer period of time and are significantly gentler on animals, people and the environment.

Fertilize beans with home remedies

Unfortunately, home remedies for fertilizing beans are usually rather unsuitable. crap or nettle manure are not good for beans as they contain too much nitrogen that the plants don't need. More suitable is there well rotted compost. This not only contains important nutrients for your beans, but also ensures a better soil structure and an active soil life.

Of course, before you can fertilize your beans, they must first be planted. You can find out how this works and what to look out for in our special article on planting beans.