Growing beans is a rewarding experience both for you and for your backyard garden. Garden beans are a rich source of protein, fiber, vitamins (such as B vitamins), and minerals (including iron, magnesium, and potassium). They are a healthy addition to your diet and can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases. However, besides revamping your dinner plant with nutrients, summer beans fix nitrogen in the soil, improving soil fertility and making it suitable for future plants. They are also relatively easy to grow and require minimal maintenance.

But what are the different types of beans to grow in your garden this summer?

1. Lima Beans are Tolerant to Heat

Grow lima beans for a quick harvest

Green beans growing in the garden

Lima beans are a great option to introduce to your garden this summer. They thrive in sunny conditions (six to eight hours of direct sunlight per day), making them the most suitable bean plants to grow at the onset of summer. You should plant lima beans after the last frost date when the soil temperature is consistently above 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Lima beans grow about 2 feet tall.

• According to the University of Delaware Extension, lima beans, especially Fordhood 242, are heat-tolerant and will produce yields normally at temperatures above 110 degrees Fahrenheit.
• The good thing about lima beans is that they mature quickly (they are ready to harvest 60 to 90 days after planting).

The lima bean variety produces several garden beans that you can introduce to your backyard.

2. Wax Beans are Known for Sweet Flavor

Wax beans are easy-to-care garden beans

Older person picking green beans in the garden.

Wax beans are a type of bush bean characterized by their yellow pods. They are similar to green beans in terms of growing requirements and culinary uses, but offer a different color and slightly sweeter flavor. Besides the sweet taste, wax beans are also loaded with nutrients such as potassium, calcium, and vitamins, making them a perfect option to plant this summer. Most wax beans grow up to 18 inches tall.

• Wax bean plants are warm-season beans that grow well when temperatures reach at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit and when they receive six hours of sunlight per day.
• Your wax beans are ready to harvest about 60 days after planting.

There are different types of beans in this category that you can grow in your garden this summer.

3. Specialty Beans are Rich in Flavor

Transform your dishes with flavorful bean varieties

Green beans growing in a summer garden.

Are you looking for something to add a rich flavor to your diet this summer? Specialty beans are garden beans that grow well in summer, producing flavorful beans that can revamp your diet. Specialty beans often have unique nutritional profiles, offering high protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Most specialty beans grow up to 30 inches tall.

• Specialty beans are summer beans that perform well in warm temperatures above 60 degrees Fahrenheit and when they get six hours of bright sunlight per day.
• Most specialty beans can take up to 150 days to harvest.

If you are interested in growing beans, there are several specialty varieties to consider.

4. Bush Beans Don't Require Staking

Bush beans are a good companion plant for your summer garden

Bush beans growing in a summer garden with beautiful red flowers.

Bush beans are garden beans that grow in a compact, bushy form, which means they don't require any staking. They are easy-to-grow summer beans that will perform well in your garden despite the high summer temperatures. Growing beans such as bush beans is a rewarding gardening experience because they are ready to harvest 50 to 60 days after planting.

• Bush beans are warm-season crops and should be planted after the danger of frost has passed, and the outdoor temperature is at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
• They should receive six hours of sunlight per day.

Bush bean plants are available in multiple varieties that you can quickly grow without any assistance.

5Grow High-Yielding Pole Beans

Pole summer beans can grow up to 12 feet tall

Pole beans growing in a garden

Pole beans are a type of climbing bean that grows tall and requires some form of support, such as poles, trellises, or fences, to grow properly. Unlike bush beans, which grow in a more compact, bushy form, pole beans produce long vines that can reach heights of 6 to 12 feet or more. They are high-yielding garden beans that grow well in summer conditions.

• You should grow beans, especially pole beans, when the danger of the first frost has passed and the outdoor temperature is above 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
• They must also get six hours of sunlight per day.
• Pole beans are ready to harvest about 70 days after planting.

Pole beans are available in multiple varieties that are adaptable to different soil conditions.