How to Grow Beans in Cotton

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Growing beans in cotton is a fun experiment that you can use to teach kids how plants grow, or that you can use to start seeds for your garden. Use a cup or jar to hold your cotton balls, then add beans, water, and sunlight to make your beans sprout. Once the plants have spouted, you can transfer them to the ground to keep growing.

Part 1
Part 1 of 2:

Sprouting the Beans in Cotton

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  1. You can grow any type of dry bean using cotton balls. Purchase a packet of bean seeds if you want instructions for how to grow them in the ground after they sprout, or use any type of whole, dry beans if you just want to experiment. [1]
    • To keep the plant compact, opt for a bush bean plant. This will not require a trellis or pole to support it and it will only grow to about 2 ft (0.61 m). If you opt for pole beans, then the vine may grow to 15 ft (4.6 m), so it will need plenty of room to climb. [2]
  2. Place the beans into a bowl or cup and fill it with water. Then, let the beans soak in the water at room temperature overnight. This will help to soften up the outer shells of the beans and make it easier for the plants to sprout. [3]
    • Don’t use hot water as this could partially cook the beans. Use cool or lukewarm tap water.
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  3. Fill a plastic cup or glass jar about 3/4 full of cotton balls [4] . Don’t pack the cotton balls down. Keep them loose in the cup or jar. Fill it until the topmost cotton balls are about 1–2 in (2.5–5.1 cm) from the top of the jar or cup. [5]
    • You can also place the beans into plastic baggies if you don’t have any cups or jars to use. [6] However, you’ll have to transfer the bean sprouts to a jar, plastic cup, or the ground once they run out of room. [7]
  4. [8] Drizzle about 1 ⁄ 8 to 1 ⁄ 4   c (30 to 59 mL) of water over the cotton balls to wet them. Don’t add too much water, as the beans might rot and not sprout. [9] Only add enough to moisten the cotton balls without excess water in the bottom of the cup. [10]

    Tip : If you accidentally add too much water, pour it out while holding onto the cotton balls so they don’t fall out of the cup.

  5. Poke your finger into the cotton to make a shallow indentation for the bean seed to rest in. Make 2 to 3 indentations per cup that are 1 in (2.5 cm) apart from each other. Place the beans just on top of the indentations in the cotton. Don’t push them down into the cotton or burrow them inside of a cotton ball. [11]
    • Don’t try to sprout more than 3 beans per cup as they will not have enough room to grow.
  6. [12] The beans will need to get 30 minutes of bright sunlight each day and then you can transfer them to a well-lit spot that is not in direct sunlight for the rest of the day. This is important since too much sunlight can stop the seeds from sprouting. [13]
    • Do not place the beans in a dark place, such as a cupboard.
  7. [14] In warm temperatures, you may need to do this every 2 days, and in cold temperatures, you may only need to water them 2 times per week. [15]
    • If the beans don’t sprout, this may be because they are not getting enough sunlight or because the cotton is too dry or too wet.
  8. The beans should start to sprout by this point, but if not, keep watching them for a few more days. If nothing happens within 1 week, start over with new beans. [16]
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Part 2
Part 2 of 2:

Transferring the Plants to Soil

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  1. Measure the bean plants once per week to track their growth. They’re ready to transfer when they are 8 in (20 cm) tall. Keep the bean sprouts with the cotton you planted them in when you are ready to transfer them to the ground. [17]
    • Do not separate the bean roots from the cotton or you may kill the plants.

    Tip : It is possible to continue growing the bean seeds in cotton only, but they may grow more slowly and they may not get as big as they would by transferring them to soil.

  2. Use a ruler or tape measure to check the distances. Dig the holes deep enough so that they will cover the cotton and bean roots completely. Then, transfer each of the bean plants and cotton to one of the holes. Cover the cotton with about 1 in (2.5 cm) of soil. [18]
    • Spacing the beans too close together may cause them not to grow, so make sure that they are at least 3 in (7.6 cm) apart.
  3. Make a mound of dirt and then thrust a 6 to 8 ft (1.8 to 2.4 m) tall pole through the center of it. Plant the 6 bean plants in a circle around the pole so that each plant is equidistant from the pole—about 6–8 in (15–20 cm) from it—and the other plants. Dig the holes deep enough to cover the cotton and bean roots completely. Then, transfer each of the plants to the holes and cover the cotton with about 1 in (2.5 cm) of soil. [19]
  4. Right after you first plant the beans, water them well. Then, check the beans on a weekly basis or more often in very hot, dry weather. If it rains, you can skip watering them for up to 1 week, so check the weather forecast often. [20]
    • You can check the soil by inserting your finger 1 in (2.5 cm) into it next to a bean plant. If it feels dry, it’s time to water the plants.
  5. Spread the fertilizer over the soil around the plants and between the rows. Use 2 to 3 lb (0.91 to 1.36 kg) of fertilizer per 10 by 10 ft (3.0 by 3.0 m) area of earth. Mix the fertilizer in with the top 3 to 4 in (7.6 to 10.2 cm) of soil around the plants. [21]
    • You can purchase 10-20-10 fertilizer in a home improvement store or nursery.
  6. Tug gently to remove the beans from the plant so that you do not damage it. The plant may continue to grow beans after the first harvest. The amount of time it takes for the beans to be ready will depend on the type of beans you are growing, so check your seed packet if you’re unsure.
    • For example, green beans are ready when they are about the size of a pencil. Be careful not to let the beans get any bigger than this as they will become tough and stringy. [22]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    Can beans grow on cotton?
    Olivia Choong
    Plant & Gardening Specialist
    Olivia Choong is a Plant and Gardening Specialist and the Owner of The Tender Gardener. With more than six years of experience, she specializes in gardening, permaculture, and self-sufficient and low-impact living practices. Her work has been featured in media outlets such as The Straits Times and Channel NewsAsia (CNA). Olivia holds a Bachelor of Mass Communications in PR and Journalism from Murdoch University.
    Olivia Choong
    Plant & Gardening Specialist
    Expert Answer
    Definitely! Beans can grow on cotton as long as long as you keep the cotton moist and not wet. Just keep in mind that the beans might take longer to sprout if they have a thicker seed coat.
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    Not Helpful 3 Helpful 14
  • Question
    Do I have to soak the cotton?
    Community Answer
    No. The cotton should be moist, but not soaked. Too much water can kill the plant.
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  • Question
    Should I put the seed at the side of the cotton or on top of the cotton?
    Community Answer
    Put the seed on top of the cotton, so that the beans do not struggle to grow.
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      Tips

      • Do not leave the beans in full sun light or in the dark. You must let them expose to sun for a few minutes daily, but extensive exposure will cause the cotton to dry. In the dark, they will not have enough light to perform photosynthesis.
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      Things You'll Need

      • Cotton balls
      • Plastic cups or glass jars
      • Bean seeds
      • Water
      • Poles (optional, for pole beans)
      • Shovel
      • Fertilizer

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      References

      1. ↑ https://teachpreschool.org/2011/09/18/planting-and-growing-beans-in-our-preschool-window/
      2. ↑ https://www.almanac.com/plant/beans
      3. ↑ https://teachpreschool.org/2011/09/18/planting-and-growing-beans-in-our-preschool-window/
      4. ↑ Olivia Choong. Plant & Gardening Specialist. Expert Interview. 3 September 2021.
      5. ↑ https://blogs.massaudubon.org/moosehilltracksandtrails/how-to-grow-beans-in-cotton-very-easy/
      6. ↑ Olivia Choong. Plant & Gardening Specialist. Expert Interview. 3 September 2021.
      7. ↑ https://teachpreschool.org/2011/09/18/planting-and-growing-beans-in-our-preschool-window/
      8. ↑ Olivia Choong. Plant & Gardening Specialist. Expert Interview. 3 September 2021.
      9. ↑ Olivia Choong. Plant & Gardening Specialist. Expert Interview. 3 September 2021.
      1. ↑ https://blogs.massaudubon.org/moosehilltracksandtrails/how-to-grow-beans-in-cotton-very-easy/
      2. ↑ https://blogs.massaudubon.org/moosehilltracksandtrails/how-to-grow-beans-in-cotton-very-easy/
      3. ↑ Olivia Choong. Plant & Gardening Specialist. Expert Interview. 3 September 2021.
      4. ↑ https://blogs.massaudubon.org/moosehilltracksandtrails/how-to-grow-beans-in-cotton-very-easy/
      5. ↑ Olivia Choong. Plant & Gardening Specialist. Expert Interview. 3 September 2021.
      6. ↑ https://lifeatthezoo.com/growing-beans-science-home/
      7. ↑ https://lifeatthezoo.com/growing-beans-science-home/
      8. ↑ https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/library/gardening/green-beans/
      9. ↑ https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/library/gardening/green-beans/
      10. ↑ https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/library/gardening/green-beans/
      11. ↑ https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/library/gardening/green-beans/
      12. ↑ https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/library/gardening/green-beans/
      13. ↑ https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/library/gardening/green-beans/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      If you have any dry bean seeds, you can easily grow them in damp cotton balls. All you’ll need to do is fill plastic cups or glass jars ¾ full of damp cotton balls. Then, bury the beans 1 inch apart with 2 or 3 to a cup. The beans only need 30 minutes of direct sunlight every day. The rest of the time, keep them in a well-lit area away from windows. When the cotton balls start to get dry, water them to keep them damp. Your beans should start to sprout after about 3 days. Once they’ve reached 8 inches, they’ll be ready to replant in soil. For more tips, including how to transplant your beans, read on!

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