VegetableBean
Dark Green Yard Long Bean
Dark Green Yard Long Bean is a heat-loving Asian heirloom that produces remarkably long, slender pods reaching up to 20 inches in length. This vigorous vining annual thrives in warm climates and grows vigorously to 5-9 feet tall, rewarding you with abundant harvests in just 70 days. Hardy in zones 3-11, it's an open-pollinated, non-GMO variety that adapts well to containers, garden beds, raised beds, and greenhouses, making it accessible even to gardeners with limited space.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
3-11
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
3-11
Size
108in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
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Highlights
The dark green, stringless pods are exceptionally long and tender, snapping cleanly when picked at their peak. This heirloom variety combines the heat tolerance and vigor of a specialty Asian bean with the ease of a modern snap bean, delivering high yields without fussiness. The sturdy plant needs warmth to truly thrive but rewards that simple requirement with an abundance of elegant, delicious pods that stand far above what grocery store beans offer.
Common Uses
These beans excel in Asian stir-fries where their tender texture and subtle flavor shine alongside garlic, ginger, and soy sauce. They can also be steamed, blanched, or added to curries and soups. The long, slender pods are best harvested young for snap bean preparations, though they can be allowed to mature for dried beans if desired.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds outdoors after the last frost date when soil has warmed thoroughly. Beans prefer to be sown directly rather than started indoors, as they germinate readily in warm soil and dislike transplanting. Space seeds 4 inches apart in rows 24 inches apart.
Harvesting
Begin harvesting when pods reach 6-10 inches long and are still tender and snappable, typically 70-79 days after planting. Pods are ready when the beans inside are small and haven't yet bulged visibly through the pod skin. Harvest regularly by gently snapping pods from the vine; frequent picking encourages continued flowering and production. Morning harvesting yields the crispest, most tender pods.
Pruning
As a vining pole bean, Dark Green Yard Long Bean requires sturdy trellising or support structures to climb. Tie or guide the main stems to your chosen support early in the season, and the plant will climb naturally as it grows. Light pruning of damaged or diseased foliage is acceptable, but avoid heavy pruning that would reduce flowering and pod production.
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 represent a fascinating strand of global vegetable heritage, bringing the culinary traditions of Asian agriculture directly to Western gardens. This heirloom variety has been preserved and passed down through open-pollination, maintaining its distinctive long pod character and reliability across generations of gardeners seeking authentic Asian ingredients at home.”