[Irene]

I've planted 5 Bush beans in an extra row (though one is a bit iffy).

I've never grown Bush beans before, don't know the variety as the seeds were a gift, but would like to know if 5 will give enough for a family of two and a few friends and neighbors.

[Trillium]

Depends on just how much you like beans. I plant at least 50 seeds every year and I never seem to grow enough for the 3 of us and the freezer. I'd plant more but haven't the space this year. Am solving that with a new raised bed for next year.

[Irene]

Trillium...50??!

What is your spacing? Your post makes me think I really don't know what I'm doing right now

[Jabberwock]

Hi Irene,

I grew them for the first time last year and only planted 12 but it was nowhere near enough for the 2 of us,................ate the lot and never had any to freeze   this year I'm doing 3 times the amount and hoping that will suffice!!

[Trillium]

My green beans are strictly French filet beans such as Sutton's Kenyan. I prefer the slimmer pod with finer texture.

I space them about 1 to 1-1/2" apart, 25 seeds per row and about 8" between rows. It sounds tight but they do just fine and I get incredible cropping. The tightness provides shade for the roots, which holds in moisture and keeps out weeds. I keep them picked and when they show signs of slowing down I keep watering them and I get a final big flush in early fall. I've just built another raised bed out of scrap timber I got free this past weekend and I think I'll do more beans as 50 plants simply aren't enough for meals and freezing.

Runner beans, however are another story, and 6 plants will give me almost too many beans 

[Rangerkris]

Last year was our first year we done around 20 this year more like 50 we plan to freeze them up.

[Irene]

Thank you all for your replies.

I truly must ask the gentleman who gave me these seeds exactly what I am planting.

His instructions were to plant 2 and a 1/2 FEET apart. He even marked where the first two should go.

When Trillium answered "50" I thought "My goodness...how large is her garden!?".

[mumofstig]

2-1/2 ft sounds like the distance between rows of beans rather than between individual plants

[Trillium]

TWhen Trillium answered "50" I thought "My goodness...how large is her garden!?".

Far smaller than I'd like, I can assure you  That's why I grow intensively on both mounded beds and raised wood beds about 18" tall. Everything can be in a lot tighter, the soil made quite rich and all watering limited to the bed tops rather than paths, fences, etc.