Legumes
Climbing beans
Climbing vines that reward frequent picking of tender pods.
Sowing & planting windows in Australia
Planting timing varies by broad Australian gardening zone. Local weather, unusual seasons and your garden’s microclimate can shift timing.
Cool
Sow · Nov–Dec
Core months: November, December
Possible / shoulder months: January, October
Temperate
Sow · Jan, Sep–Dec
Core months: January, September, October, November, December
Possible / shoulder months: February
Subtropical
Sow · Jan–Mar, Aug–Dec
Core months: January, February, March, August, September, October, November, December
Possible / shoulder months: April
Tropical
Sow · Apr–Jul
Core months: April, May, June, July
Possible / shoulder months: February, March, August, September, October
Arid
Sow · Jan, Sep–Dec
Core months: January, September, October, November, December
Possible / shoulder months: February
Getting started
Sow directly where plants will grow; thin seedlings to the spacing needed at maturity.
The right conditions
Choose full sun, fertile free-draining soil and reliable moisture.
As it grows
Provide a sturdy trellis before sowing, guide young vines onto it, and water consistently through flowering and pod fill.
Ready to harvest
Pick tender pods often to keep vines producing.
Related how-to guides
Choose supports for peas, beans and other climbers
Identify the growth habit.
Pick peas and beans at the right stage
Check the crop: snow peas are picked flat, shelling peas when peas fill the pod, and green beans while pods are tender before seeds bulge strongly.
Plant guidance: Desk-reviewed; not field-tested. Planting windows are a guide rather than a rule.