How to Grow Tepary Beans
On this page
Tepary beans are ready to harvest 70–90 days after planting.
Tepary beans (Phaseolus acutifolius) — Frost-tender annual.
The short answer
- Ready in
- 70–90 days
- Site
- soil pH 5–7
Tepary Bean (Phaseolus acutifolius)
2 sources cited
Quick Facts
Soil & Growing Conditions
Harvest & Storage
Tepary bean, cultivated and wild
What the research guides add
Tepary is the opposite of a fussy bean: it was bred by desert farmers, and the USDA guide is clear about what it tolerates.
- A native annual legume; domesticated plants are bushier than wild vines, up to 12 inches tall and 20 inches across, with seeds about ⅓ inch long in brown, beige, black, mottled or white. (USDA NRCS)
- The flowers can produce viable pollen and set seed at temperatures above 105°F, and the leaflets tilt parallel to the sun’s rays to reduce heat load. (USDA NRCS)
- Roots extend deep and can extract soil moisture that common bean cannot reach; the plants complete their reproductive cycle rapidly, which avoids later drought. (USDA NRCS)
- In the Southwest deserts it is traditionally sown at the start of monsoon rains (mid-June to mid-July), and can be sown earlier with supplemental irrigation. (USDA NRCS)
Sources for this section
Section researched and checked on 25 October 2026 by the SoilCommander Editorial Team. How we check facts: editorial policy.
Last verified 2026-10-25
Growing Tepary Bean in another region
Sowing dates, frost timing and local advice differ by country. Use the guide for where you garden.
Sources
These 2 sources are specific to this region. The full list of 2 sources behind this guide (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa (PROTA), Useful Tropical Plants (tropical.theferns.info)) is in the references of our UK guide to tepary beans; they describe the plant itself, which is the same wherever it grows.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do tepary beans take to grow?
Typically 70–90 days, depending on cultivar and growing conditions.
What soil pH do tepary beans need?
A pH of about 5–7. That span reflects genuine variation between the authorities we cite rather than a single agreed figure — the References section lists each source's exact range.
Plan next season before the problems start
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How this guide is put together
The growing data on this page — sowing windows, pests, diseases, soil and site requirements — comes from named horticultural sources, listed in References below, checked against international horticultural research and extension sources. An automated pipeline assembles that verified data into the page you're reading: it selects which facts to lead with and builds the surrounding prose and layout. It does not invent a date, a source or a number — where a verified value for a field isn't available, the page leaves it out rather than guessing. A person reviews and publishes each page; nothing goes live unverified.
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