Bean / Yardlong Stickless Wonder

Description

Family: Papilionaceae
Genus: Vigna
Species: Unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis
Yardlong bush, Long Bean, Asparagus Bean, Snake Bean, Chinese Long Bean

A rare early dwarf type, bushy plants don’t require any sticks. It is a bush-type bean that can be grown directly on the ground. Produces long beans to about 15″ with good flavor and many uses. 55 days

Sowing: Indoors: Sow into small 9cm pots from April to May, water well and keep inside at about 16degC. When the plants are large enough to handle and the risk of frost has passed transplant into the final position late May to early June. Space plants 20cm apart, in rows 60cm apart. Directly into the garden without having to germinate them indoors first. It’s best to plant them as a mid or late-spring crop and when any chance of frost has passed. Pick a part of your garden that gets plenty of light. Yardlong beans grow best in full sun and will need at least 6 hours of sunlight per day for optimal growth. Water well to get the bean to germinate but once grown do not overwater as the plants prefer it drier. Keep picking the pods regularly to ensure the plants keep producing more beans.

Harvest:Mid July till first frosts.

Beans as companion plants: Planted closely in rows spaced around two feet, bush bean plants blend well with like-sized warm-season vegetables such as peppers, tomatoes, and eggplants.