VegetableBean
Roma II Bean
Roma II Bean stands out as an All-America Selections winner that brings the distinctive flat, broad pods of Italian Romano beans to American gardens. This vigorous bush variety produces abundant harvests of 5-6 inch stringless pods in just 50-59 days, thriving across hardiness zones 3-11 without any staking or trellising required. Its compact 12-24 inch upright growth habit makes it perfect for containers and small spaces, while its impressive disease resistance ensures reliable harvests even in challenging conditions.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
3-11
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam
Growth Stats
24 in
Height
TypeUpright
Spacing
4
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
3-11
Size
24in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
This AAS-winning heirloom delivers the meaty texture and robust flavor that made Romano beans famous in Mediterranean cuisine, but with modern improvements in yield and disease resistance. The flat, broad pods grow in clusters for easy picking, and the stringless quality means they're ready to eat fresh from the garden. Its bush habit eliminates the need for supports while still producing impressive harvests, and the plants' heat tolerance keeps them productive through summer's peak. With resistance to multiple diseases including Bacterial Blight and Bean Common Mosaic Virus, Roma II provides dependable harvests for both novice and experienced gardeners.
Common Uses
Roma II beans excel in both fresh eating and cooking applications, with their stringless pods perfect for snacking raw straight from the garden. The substantial, meaty texture of these flat Romano-style beans makes them ideal for stir-fries, steaming, and traditional Mediterranean dishes where they hold their shape beautifully. Their excellent quality also extends to preservation, making them suitable for canning and freezing to enjoy the harvest year-round.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Sow seeds directly into the garden about 1 inch deep after the danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed to at least 60°F. Space seeds 4-6 inches apart in rows with 18-24 inches between rows for good airflow and easy harvesting.
Harvesting
Roma II beans are ready for harvest in 50-65 days when the flat pods reach 5-6 inches in length. Pick beans while they're still tender and crisp, before the seeds inside fully develop, as snap beans are harvested for their pods rather than mature seeds. The beans should snap easily when bent and feel firm and fleshy. Use scissors or gently pull beans from the plant to avoid damaging the bush, and harvest regularly to encourage continued production.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Phaseolus vulgaris
Family
Fabaceae
Genus
Phaseolus
Growth Habit
Upright
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)VI (I)
History & Origin
“Roma II Bush Bean belongs to the Romano bean family that originated in Italy, where the distinctive flat-podded beans became beloved for their robust flavor and meaty texture. This variety was specifically bred to combine the traditional Italian Romano characteristics with improved yield and the ability to thrive in diverse growing conditions. The breeding work focused on maintaining the authentic Romano flavor while creating a more productive, disease-resistant plant that could succeed in American gardens, eventually earning it recognition as an All-America Selections winner.”