Could be shade issue but IME the most common cause is that there are some huge unpicked beans hidden in the foliage that got over-looked. Once the plant senses several of those it statts to shut down. So comb through all the foliage carefully , especially near the bottom and clean out any left overs.

Next most likely is Blossom Drop due to air temps. Just like tomatoes and any other fruiting plant, beans will shut down production once the air temps get consistently above 95 or there is too much wind, humidity issues, or excess nitrogen. See link to the FAQ on this below.

Dave
Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: Blossom Drop FAQ

Thanks Dave. I went on the hunt and on all 24 plants, I found only about a dozen beans...and those were only barely ready to be picked. They weren't nearly as big as the ones I harvested a month or so ago, and they weren't as deep a green...they were almost a yellowish-green.

Reading the link you posted about blossom drop...I don't think the temps are an issue. This past month our average high has been only 87 / average low 73. I did fertilize the entire garden with a low dose of fish emulsion (5-1-1) about a month ago...could that be the problem? I did read yesterday that you should not add nitrogen to pole beans...maybe they didn't like that?

Have you used any fertilizer? They might appreciate some compost or a good balanced fertilizer. Also, they do have a finite life span, which is why succession planting is a good idea. Put a few new seeds in the ground every month so new plants will take off when the old ones are in decline.

Here is a link that might be useful: What's Growing On?

I did spread some organic manure compost recently just over the top of the entire bed...this was about a week after I applied the fish emulsion. That's really the only fertilizing I've done since planting in March.

I didn't realize that about their life span. I do have a lot of seeds left...would you just bury them in between the others?? I currently have eight plants equally spaced in each square foot. Would that make them too crowded?