McCaslan 42 is a Southern heirloom pole bean with a remarkable dual life. Introduced by the McCaslan family of Georgia in 1912, this heat-loving variety grows slender, slightly flattened pods reaching nearly 8 inches long. Pick them young for tender snap beans, or let them mature on the vine to harvest ivory-colored shelling beans later in the season. In about 70 days, you'll have a prolific harvest of beans that thrive in warm weather (70-80°F), making this a natural choice for Southern gardens and anyone seeking a versatile, historically significant bean.
Full Sun
Moderate
3-10
?in H x ?in W
—
High
Hover over chart points for details
This bean carries the living story of the McCaslan family's Georgia garden, where it was carefully preserved before being shared with the world in 1912. The real magic lies in its dual personality: one plant gives you both fresh snap beans in midsummer and ivory shelling beans come fall, offering two distinct harvests from a single planting. Heat and prolific production are built into its DNA, making it unusually forgiving in hot climates where many bean varieties struggle.
McCaslan 42 offers flexibility in the kitchen. Harvest the pods when young and tender for steamed or sautéed snap beans with delicate flavor and texture. Wait until late season and allow the beans to dry on the vine, then shell them for ivory-colored dried beans suited to slow cooking, bean soups, and hearty stews. Many Southern cooks value this variety precisely because a single planting can supply both fresh summer vegetables and dried beans for winter storage.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Direct sow seeds outdoors after all danger of frost has passed and soil temperatures have warmed to at least 60°F, ideally closer to 70°F. Plant seeds 4 inches apart at the base of a sturdy trellis, pole, or other vertical support structure.
For snap beans, pick pods when they reach 6-7 inches long, still tender and before seeds bulge noticeably through the pod walls. The slightly flattened pods should snap cleanly when bent. For shelling beans, allow pods to remain on the vine later into the season until they dry and turn brown, then harvest and shell to reveal the ivory-colored beans within. Regular picking of young snap beans encourages the plant to keep flowering and setting new pods throughout the growing season.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
“In 1912, the McCaslan family made the decision to share a bean variety they had been protecting in their Georgian garden plot for generations. This prolific, heat-loving green bean had proven its worth through years of cultivation in the South, adapting to hot summers and becoming a family treasure. By introducing McCaslan 42 to the broader gardening world, the family transformed a regional favorite into a widely beloved heirloom. The variety carries the mark of genuine Southern agricultural heritage, preserved not through commercial breeding programs but through the quiet dedication of a family committed to maintaining their garden's most productive inhabitants.”