Do beans need pre-soaking before planting?
Written by
Julia Anderson
Reviewed by
Prof. Charles Hartman, Ph.D.Let's talk about pre-soaking beans, which splits the gardening community into two camps. I have tried out both approaches for a decade, and soaked lima beans sprouted two days sooner than not-soaked ones, but bush beans rotted in slightly cooler soil, I was never able to get either to germinate. It comes down to the type of beans being planted versus soil temperature and time constraints. You should always choose soil temperature over soaking bombast.
Lima & Fava Beans
- Thick seed coats require 8-12 hour soaks
- Use water heated to 70°F (21°C)
- Boosts germination rates by 40%
- Avoid oversoaking, wrinkled seeds rot
Bush & Pole Beans
- Optional 4-hour soak if soil >60°F
- Skip soaking in cool/wet conditions
- Unsoaked seeds take 7-10 days to sprout
- Soaked seeds rot if planted before rain
Local climates influence soaking decisions. Those gardeners in drier zones (7-10) soak freely because the warm soaking soils will dry quickly. I have clients in Colorado who soak 90% of the beans. On the other hand, northern growers (zones 3-6) risk rot. I tell them to skip soaking beans unless they are planting beans late in the heat.
Water Quality
- Use rainwater or filtered tap
- Avoid chlorinated water, it kills good bacteria
- Ideal temperature: 65-75°F
Drying Process
- Pat seeds dry with paper towels
- Let air-dry 1 hour pre-planting
- Never plant dripping wet seeds
Emergency solutions are available for beans that have become waterlogged. Spread the seeds onto burlap in the shade for at least three hours. Dust the seeds with cinnamon to discourage the potential for fungus. I saved one batch of beans this way after some unexpected rain postponed my planting schedule. You should monitor the over-soaked seeds daily, throwing any out that smells sour.
Read the full article: When Plant Beans: Expert Timing for Every Garden
