VegetableBean
Tenderette Green Bean
Tenderette Green Bean is an open-pollinated heirloom snap bean that delivers everything home gardeners want: tender, flavorful pods ready in just 50 to 59 days, and a compact upright plant that fits anywhere from containers to garden beds. This non-GMO variety reaches 12 to 24 inches tall and produces remarkably consistent 5-inch green beans with a rich, snappy texture that shines whether you steam, stir-fry, or eat them raw. Growing vigorously in zones 3 through 9, it brings reliable productivity and exceptional flavor to any garden.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
3-9
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
3-9
Size
24in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
The pods are the real draw here: long, straight, and absolutely packed with snap and succulence. They mature quickly and don't all ripen at once, giving you a steady harvest window rather than overwhelming glut. The plant itself stays tidy and compact, growing only 12 to 24 inches tall, which means it thrives in containers, raised beds, and tight garden spaces where sprawling varieties wouldn't fit. Its resistance to Bacterial Blight, MV, Powdery Mildew, R, and RR makes it a genuinely low-fuss grower.
Common Uses
Tenderette excels as a fresh snap bean eaten whole, whether lightly steamed, stir-fried, or enjoyed raw in salads. The consistent pod size and tender texture make it equally at home on a dinner plate or as a crunchy addition to composed dishes where appearance and bite matter.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds into warm soil after the last spring frost, when soil temperature reaches at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Plant seeds 1 inch deep, spacing them 4 inches apart in rows 24 inches apart. For continuous harvest, sow new plantings every two weeks throughout the growing season.
Harvesting
Pick pods when they reach 5 inches long and still have a tender, snappy feel in your hand. This typically occurs 50 to 59 days after planting. Harvest regularly, removing mature pods every few days to encourage the plant to continue flowering and producing rather than investing energy into mature seeds. The pods should snap cleanly when bent, indicating peak tenderness.
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)