Bush beans (nitrogen-fixing, high yield, easy)

Bush beans are one of the easiest crops to grow from seed and one of the most productive for beginners. They germinate reliably in warm soil (60+ degrees F), require no staking or trellising (unlike pole beans), and begin producing in just 50-60 days. A single 4-foot row can yield 5-10 pounds of beans over 2-3 weeks. Direct sow seeds 1 inch deep, 3-4 inches apart, in rows 12-18 inches apart. Do not start beans indoors; they transplant poorly. Water consistently but avoid wetting foliage (increases disease). Beans are legumes that fix atmospheric nitrogen through symbiotic root bacteria (Rhizobium), actually improving soil fertility for the next crop, making them excellent rotation partners preceding heavy-feeding crops like tomatoes or corn. Top beginner varieties: Provider (53 days, cold-tolerant for early planting), Blue Lake 274 (58 days, classic green bean), Royal Burgundy (55 days, purple pods turn green when cooked, easy to see for picking). For continuous harvest, succession plant every 3 weeks from last frost through midsummer. After the final harvest, cut plants at soil level and leave roots in the ground to release their stored nitrogen.