Do I need to stake my bean plants?

[bandgeek]

I'm pretty new to all this and quite surprised all of my stuff is growing so well! One of my bean plants is already about 3 feet high and it has kind of flopped over the other ones. I held it up to see how tall it was and that particular branch grew at an angle and it seems unnatural to pull it up in that direction, which makes me think I *shouldn't* stake it.

What do I do?

[greenmagick]

What kind of bean is it? Bush beans dont need staking (that I know of) but runner and climbing beans need a trellis

[lmonter]

If it's 3ft, probably a pole bean. Yes, they need staked. Otherwise, it'll be a crazy, crazy jungle come harvest time. If you're gentle with staking it, it'll be fine. Like partly upright for a week, more upright the next week, and so on.

Bush beans usually stay less than 18-24" tall.