Bean Plant Growth Stages

A green bean plant.

Beans are a common choice for many gardens. By understanding the stages of bean plant life, growers can better assist in their development.

Seed

A bean plant seed needs only water and warmth to germinate. The seeds have two sides called cotyledons, which contain food stores the seed can live off during its first days of growth.

Germination

Roots develop from the bean, the two cotyledons separate and a stem grows between them. As the stem develops, it sprouts the plant's first two round leaves.

Branching

Branches develop from the bases of the leaves. New leaves continue to grow with new leaf nodes, developing every three to five days.

Flowering and Fruiting

Flower buds appear and bloom at the ends of the stems. These flowers eventually turn into bean pods that will dry as they remain on the plant, and can then be harvested.

Time Span

A seed takes an average of 11 days to sprout above ground, though it can be anywhere from 3 to 40 days. Plants will then take an average of six weeks to flower, and should produce bean pods less than two weeks after flowering.

References

• Life Cycle Bean Plant
• Growth and Developmental Stages of the Bean Plant
• Bean Plant Growth