VegetableBean
White Seeded Yard Long Bean
The White Seeded Yard Long Bean is an Asian heirloom that brings productivity and heat tolerance to any garden where space allows it to climb. This vigorous vining bean produces slender green pods over 60 to 69 days, thriving in full sun across zones 5 through 12. Open-pollinated and non-GMO, it's the kind of reliable workhorse that repays minimal fuss with abundant harvests, whether you're training it up a trellis in the garden or letting it ramble through a container.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
5-12
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam
Growth Stats
108 in
Height
TypeVining
Spacing
4
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
5-12
Size
108in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
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Highlights
Heat and resilience define this variety. Unlike many beans that sulk in intense summer conditions, the White Seeded Yard Long Bean actually accelerates as temperatures climb, making it exceptionally productive when other crops slow down. Its resistance to Bacterial Blight and Powdery Mildew means fewer struggles with common problems, and its open-pollinated nature means you can save seeds year after year without worrying about hybrid vigor loss.
Common Uses
These long, slender pods are harvested young and tender, typically before they reach full maturity. They excel in stir-fries, where their crisp texture withstands high heat beautifully, and in curries where they absorb sauce flavors while maintaining a pleasant snap. They can be steamed, boiled, or blanched and added to salads, and in many Asian kitchens they're simply sautéed with garlic and a touch of oil.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant seedlings outdoors only after all frost danger has passed and soil has warmed to at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Harden off gradually over 7 to 10 days before moving them to their final location.
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds outdoors after the last spring frost when soil temperature reaches 65 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer. Sow along your trellis or support structure so vines can climb as they grow.
Harvesting
Begin harvesting when pods are full-length but still tender and snap cleanly when bent, typically 60 to 69 days after planting. Harvest regularly every two to three days to encourage continued flowering and pod set. Pods left on the plant too long become stringy and less palatable. A gentle pull with a slight twist usually releases the pod cleanly from the vine.
Pruning
As a vining bean, the White Seeded Yard Long Bean benefits from gentle guidance onto its trellis or support rather than aggressive pruning. Guide new growth onto your chosen structure in the first few weeks, then allow the vine to produce naturally. Pinching out the growing tip after the plant reaches your desired height encourages branching and more pod production along the entire vine.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis
Family
Fabaceae
Genus
Vigna
Growth Habit
Vining
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)VI (I)
History & Origin
“Yard-long beans have deep roots in Asian agriculture, where they've been cultivated for centuries as a staple protein source. The White Seeded Yard Long Bean represents a particular strain preserved and refined within that tradition, valued for its reliable germination and consistent pod production. As an heirloom variety, it carries the genetic memory of generations of selection by gardeners who saved seeds from their best-performing plants, a practice that continues today.”