Fresh green beans are both easy to grow and easy to harvest whether in a garden or in a pot. Growing green beans in a container opens up vegetable gardening possibilities to renters with a sunny patio or deck, and to homeowners with less desirable ground or physical limitations that prevent strenuous work. The green bean thrives in full sun and will produce new pods in response to being harvested, making the plant exceedingly productive for as much and as long you can keep up with it.
Fill the bottom of your container with a thin 1-inch layer of gravel. Cover over the gravel and fill the container to the top with clean, fresh potting soil.
Plant your seeds 1 1/2 to 2 inches deep and cover them lightly without pressing down. Depending on the variety you are growing, "pole" bean seeds should be spaced 2 inches apart and set "bush" beans 4 to 6 inches apart.
Water the soil with an overall sprinkling to moisten the soil throughout without making it saturated. Keep the soil evenly moist for the first two to three weeks as the seeds germinate.
Continue to water the container when you notice the top inch of soil has become dry. Switch to more frequent watering when flowers and pods are forming to keep the soil moist as you did when the seeds were first planted.
Harvest your beans anywhere from 45 to 85 days after your seeds were planted, when the pods are about 3 inches long and not yet bulging. Picking the beans will encourage more flower production.