Pole beans and bush beans both grow well in Kamloops, but the best choice depends on your space, summer heat, and how you like to harvest. Pole beans give longer, steadier harvests in our cooler nights, while bush beans produce quickly and all at once.

Pole Beans – your long-season workhorses

• Are considered to have more intense flavour.
• Require plenty of vertical space and need support such as a pole or trellis.
• All pole beans are indeterminate which means they grow which means they grow progressively over a longer harvest period.
• Require a bit more patience as they take longer to mature than bush beans but continue producing  beans longer.
• They don’t mind the nighttime temperature dips and will give you beans steadily from late July into September.
• Harvest daily over the course of a month
• Great for canning and freezing.

Recommended varieties:

• Isabel – a french climbing bean, 6″ beans from Laughing Swan Seeds, Kamloops (55 days)
• Blue Lake Pole Beans– 6-7″ beans from West Coast Seeds or McKenzie Non GMO, (70 days)
• Trionfo Violetto – 6″ beans from McKenzie and are Heritage Non GMO, (55-60 days)
• Fortex  Filet Beans – very good, long and slender from West Coast Seeds, (70 days)
• Noodle King,- 12-18″ beans, very good and slender from West Coast Seeds, (80 days)

Planting:

• 6–8 seeds around each pole or teepee.
• Space teepees 3–4 ft apart.
• For a container garden use an upside down wire tomato cage with the three prongs tied together.
• Mulch well to conserve moisture in the dry heat.
• Expect to begin harvest 60 to 75 days after planting.

Recommended varieties:

• Blue Lake Bush Beans – 6-7″ beans from Laughing Swan Seeds, Kamloops (55 days)
• Maxibel Filet Organic –  7″ beans from West Coast Seeds, Art Knapps (55 days)
• Amethyst Purple Stringless Filet – 5-6″ beans , McKenzie Seeds Non- GMO (55 days)

Planting:

• Sow in two rounds: late May and mid‑June.
• Space seeds 3–4″ apart in rows 18–24″ apart.
• Expect harvests about 50–60 days after planting.

Options for Your 2026 Garden Layout

Option A: The Balanced Combo 

• 1 teepee or trellis of pole beans
• 1–2 short rows of bush beans
• Second bush bean row in mid‑June

This gives you:

• Early beans (bush)
• Steady summer beans (pole)
• A second wave in August (bush succession)

Option B: Low‑Maintenance & High Yield

• Two teepees of pole beans
• One early row of bush beans

Great if you want less bending and more continuous picking.

Option C: Freezer/Canning-Friendly

• Three staggered rows of bush beans
• Plant May 25, June 10, June 25
• Add one small pole bean teepee for fun and late-season snacking

Watering & Care Tips

• Mulch heavily — Kamloops’ dry heat can stress beans.
• Water deeply 2–3 times per week in July/August.
• Avoid overhead watering in the evening (cool nights = mildew risk).
• Pick often to keep plants producing.