Pole Bean
Derby Bean is a bush variety that earned an All-America Selections award in 1990 for good reason: it delivers exceptional flavor and impressive pod size in just 50 to 60 days. This heirloom cultivar grows as a compact, bushy plant reaching 18 to 24 inches tall, producing an abundance of straight, tender, deep green pods that stretch to 7 inches long. Hardy in zones 3 through 11, it thrives in full sun and moderate moisture, making it reliable across most North American gardens.
Full Sun
Moderate
3-11
?in H x ?in W
Annual
Moderate
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Expect heavy yields of remarkably flavorful pods from a plant that stays neat and compact. The pods grow straight and tender, reaching up to 7 inches, and the plants produce them quickly and generously. This is a variety that rewards gardeners with abundance: multiple flushes of beans from a single, manageable bush that doesn't sprawl or demand trellising.
Derby Beans are grown as fresh green beans for the home table. The tender, 7-inch pods are ideal for steaming, sautéing, or roasting whole. Their substantial size and excellent flavor make them equally suited to simple preparations that let the bean shine or to more elaborate vegetable side dishes.
Sow Derby Bean seeds directly outdoors when soil temperatures consistently reach 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Plant seeds 1/2 to 1 inch deep, spacing them 3 to 6 inches apart. Seeds will sprout in 7 to 14 days under proper conditions.
Begin harvesting Derby Beans when pods reach 5 to 7 inches long and while they remain tender and bright green. Pods should snap crisply when bent and should still have a slight give when squeezed, indicating tender inner beans rather than mature seeds. Pick regularly to encourage continued production throughout the growing season, typically beginning around day 50 to 60 after planting.
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“Derby Bean's 1990 All-America Selections award speaks to its development as a superior green bean cultivar. The variety represents a refinement in bush bean breeding, selected specifically for the combination of robust growth, early production, and the notably large pods that set it apart from standard green bean varieties.”