Bean plants are relatively easy to grow, which is one of the reasons they’re such great beginner plants. However, as with any plant, there’s a growth learning curve, especially when it comes to flowering. Bean plants typically flower well on their own, but some may struggle sometimes, and there are a few ways you can help with this.
You can get your bean plants to flower by ensuring they get the right amount of light and water. Too much or too little light and water can prevent beans from flowering. Too much nitrogen can also impair flower growth, so make sure the nitrogen level in your soil doesn’t get too high.
In the rest of this article, I’ll discuss ways you can get your bean plants to flower if they’re struggling. Beans are resilient little plants, and the fix for a bean plant failing to flower is generally straightforward. So if you want to learn more about helping your bean plants flower, read on.
1. Ensure That Your Beans Are Getting Good Light
First, you’ll need to ensure your bean plants get enough sunlight. Where your beans are planted in your yard and the time of year you plant them can significantly affect their health. A bean plant that isn’t getting enough light or is getting too much is less likely to flower.
So what are the signs that poor lighting is to blame?
Signs Your Beans Are Getting Too Much Light
Beans that are getting too much light also get too much heat from that light. So harsh sunlight can burn your bean plants and cause them stress. This stress will result in fewer blooms, if any.
Signs your plant is getting too much sun include:
- Burned leaves
- Yellowing leaves
- Browning leaves
- Quickly drying soil or cracked soil
- The plant is hot to the touch
Beans typically need about 8 hours of sunlight per day. However, setting up some shade for your beans may be helpful if you live in a hot climate. Beans don’t like to be cold but struggle with excessive heat from constant sun.
Signs Your Beans Are Getting Too Little Light
Another reason your beans may be struggling to flower is they aren’t getting enough sunlight. Plants convert sunlight into food, which is used as energy for things like producing fruit. As I previously stated, bean plants typically need around 8 hours of sunlight daily.
Signs your bean plants aren’t getting enough sunlight include:
- Sparse plant growth
- Small leaves
- Pale leaf colorations
- Stunted growth
Natural sunlight is the best way to keep your plants healthy and happy. If you suspect lack of light is the issue, you’ll want to move your beans the following year or plant new ones in a better location.
If your plants are growing in a greenhouse, adding some grow lights will help ensure your beans get enough light. Natural light is best, but artificial light can be helpful when there is no way around it.
2. Water Your Beans Regularly
Water is essential to your bean plants’ growth and can certainly be the culprit if your plants aren’t flowering. Beans require 1 inch (2.54 cm) of water per week, so long as the soil drains well. Water that sits on your plant’s roots will result in root rot and prevent your plants from flowering. Soil that is oversaturated with water can also encourage fungi to sprout.
Setting up a watering schedule is a great way to ensure you don’t under or overwater your bean plants. Underwatered beans are more susceptible to heat stress and illness. In comparison, overwatered beans are more susceptible to rotting.
Ensure that your bean’s soil is drying out completely between watering.
3. Check That the Soils Nutrients Are Correct
Another common culprit for flowering issues with bean plants is the soil. Bean plants grow exceptionally well when left alone, but soil nutrients are sometimes slightly off. If your soil’s nitrogen levels are too high, instead of flowering, your plants will grow large green leaves rather than flowers.
Nitrogen aids in the production of leaves but isn’t great for encouraging fruit when provided at high levels. If your nitrogen is too high, you’ll need to increase the soil’s potash. Beans prefer a pH level between 6-7.
You can check your soil’s nutrients by performing a soil test. I recommend Luster Leaf Soil Test Kit (available on Amazon.com). This test kit is incredible because it provides rapid results, and you’ll know exactly which levels in your soil need adjusting.
The biggest thing with beans is avoiding over-fertilization. Beans absorb nitrogen from the air and soil, so adding extra will result in sizable leafy growth but no flowers or fruit.
4. Keep the Beans at a Good Temperature
The temperature outside will also be a huge factor affecting your bean plants’ flowering. Beans enjoy warm weather and will die when temperatures get frosty. So it’s essential to maintain suitable temperatures, which can be challenging since you have no control over nature.
Planting at the right time of the year is a good start. Additionally, during a cold front, you can add insulators to your bean plants, like mulch or a heat-trapping cloth. Beans that are overheated will begin to burn and wither. In contrast, cold plants will start to wilt and slowly die back.
Planting your beans in a greenhouse will give you more control over the temperature. Bean plants prefer temperatures of about 70-80°F (21-27°C). If temperatures dip below or above this range, they’ll likely struggle to flower.
5. Avoid Plant Stressors
Beans are hardy, but like any plant, they can become stressed. Stress is a common reason for bean plants not flowering. If your plant feels like it’s dying, it’s less likely to exert much-needed energy to try producing fruit.
So what are the most common stressors, and how can they be avoided?
Extreme Weather
First is extreme weather. It can be stressful for your plants if you live in a climate that is constantly yo-yo-ing in temperature. However, there are precautions you can take to combat extreme weather.
For instance, if you know you have a heat wave, putting up a temporary shade and increasing your watering will help. If a cold front is coming, you can insulate your plant’s bed by adding mulch or a wool blanket over your plants at night.
By being proactive, your bean plants will experience less stress during weather changes and have more energy for producing flowers.
Inconsistent Watering
If you water your bean plants inconsistently, they’ll become stressed and less likely to flower. Beans need regular watering, but not too much or too little water.
Setting up a watering schedule or a timed water system will prevent inconsistent watering.
Illness
A less common reason your bean plant isn’t flowering is due to illness. It’s no secret that sickness stresses any plant out, and if your beans are ill, they’ll undoubtedly struggle to flower. In addition, root rot and other bacterial issues can cause significant damage to your plants.
By inspecting your bean plants’ leaves, you can usually tell if they’re sick. If you notice odd patterns on the leaves or bits of the leaves’ center rotting away, they likely have a bacterial infection. These infections are treatable with fungicides, but prevention is the most effective method.
Pests
Finally, your bean plants might be stressed out due to pests. Beetles and stink bugs are especially attracted to bean plants and can nibble your poor plant to death. Regular inspections and the use of neem oil can ensure bugs stay away from your plants.
Fewer pests equals happy, healthy flower-producing beans.
6. Watch for Pollinators
Lastly, your bean plant might not be flowering due to a lack of pollinators. Many bean plants can self-pollinate if the blooms are close together, but some will still struggle if bees and other garden friends aren’t helping.
The most significant sign that your bean plants aren’t being pollinated is that your plant produces flowers that drop off without producing any fruit. Sometimes pollinators ignore bean plants due to other flowers being more fragrant.
You can remedy this by self-pollinating. Flick the flowers and allow the pollen to sprinkle onto the other flowers. You can also use a paintbrush to pollinate the flowers or purchase ladybugs to aid in pollination. Most gardening stores have ladybugs for sale in small mesh bags.
Heather Khlystov has a great tutorial on self-pollinating bean plants if you’re a visual learner. In the following video, she walks you through a few easy processes and explains the methods pretty well in a short amount of time:
Conclusion
Getting bean plants to flower isn’t complicated; most plants will do so independently. However, you’ll often have more trouble with your beans flowering if you go overboard with caring for them.
The most likely reasons your beans are struggling to flower are:
- Inappropriate levels of sunlight
- Inconsistent watering
- High nitrogen levels
- Extreme temperatures
- Stress
- Lack of pollination
Each of these issues can be remedied with relatively little effort.
