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How to Plant Yard-Long Green Beans
Plant yard-long bean seed or transplants in spring after the final local average frost date, in sunny spots and evenly moist soil.
Over their long history, yard-long beans (Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis) have acquired many names, including Peru bean, asparagus bean and snake bean, but "yard-long" best describes their pods, which grow up to 36 inches long. These annual vines grow 9 to 12 feet tall, and as well as producing edible bean pods, they also offer large, violet-blue summer flowers.
Early maturing varieties of yard-long beans produce bean pods 50 to 70 days after sowing. The pods of late varieties are ready for harvest 100 to 120 days after sowing.
Growing Spots
Yard-long beans produce the best pods in evenly moist soil and warm sunny spots sheltered from winds. These plants thrive in warm conditions, but the pods of yard-long beans growing in dry soil are fibrous and short.
Grow yard-long beans next to a sturdy, 6-foot trellis, which will support the plants as they grow.
Tip
If the garden soil is thin and dry, improve its moisture-holding capacity by mixing in a 3- or 4-inch layer of aged manure or garden compost 6 inches deep into the soil with a garden fork.
Sowing and Transplanting
Warm soil temperatures give the best results when sowing or transplanting yard-long beans. Sow the beans 1 to 2 inches deep and 3 to 4 inches apart when the soil temperature is about 80 degrees Fahrenheit after the final average frost date in spring. Space bean rows 4 to 5 feet apart. Transplant yard-long bean seedlings at the same time, planting them at their original growing depths and spacing them 6 to 12 inches apart.
Tip
When the bean seeds have sprouted and have their second set of leaves, remove the thinnest, weakest seedlings to leave plants spaced 6 to 12 inches apart.
Watering Yard-Long Beans
Regular watering helps yard-long beans grow well. Water the bean seeds or transplanted seedlings after planting, applying enough water to moisten the soil at least 6 inches deep.
Warning
Don't water yard-long beans so much that the ground becomes soggy.
Water yard-long beans when the soil surface is dry, which may be every day in warm, windy weather.
Training the Vines
Yard-long beans are vigorous climbers, and they benefit from training to grow evenly spaced on a trellis. Training the plants allows sunlight to penetrate dense areas, encouraging healthy growth and high bean pod production.
When yard-long beans grow away from the trellis or clump together in one area but leave other areas empty, move the stems to a better position and tie pieces of soft twine around their stems to attach them to the trellis.
