Urizun is an early-maturing winged bean from Japan that brings tropical flavor to temperate gardens without the usual waiting game. Unlike most winged beans, which are stubbornly day-length sensitive and refuse to flower until autumn, Urizun flowers reliably throughout the season, giving you pods in just 120 days. Grown as a pole bean in hardiness zones 9-11, it climbs steadily in full sun and rewards you with supremely delicious harvest across a long stretch of summer and fall. This heirloom variety thrives where tropical meets temperate, combining the adaptability gardeners crave with the complex, genuine flavor winged beans are prized for.
6
Full Sun
Moderate
9-11
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High
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Urizun breaks the winged bean mold by flowering early and continuously, rather than waiting for the equinox to set pods. Baker Creek's founder discovered winged beans during a trip to Thailand and recognized their potential beyond equatorial Asia; Urizun proves that with the right genetics, these tropical treasures can thrive far from their native habitat. Its early maturity and indifference to day length mean gardeners in a wide range of climates can finally grow this crop reliably, capturing flavors that most of us have only encountered in Asian markets or restaurants.
Winged beans are harvested and eaten as immature tender pods, similar to green beans or okra. The young pods can be steamed, stir-fried, or boiled, and are prized in Southeast Asian cuisines for their mild flavor and crisp, slightly succulent texture. The plant also produces tubers and seeds that are edible, though the tender pod stage is what most gardeners in temperate climates will pursue.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before your last frost date, sowing them in warm, moist seed-starting mix at a soil temperature of 70°F. Keep the medium consistently warm and moist but not waterlogged. Transplant seedlings into larger containers if they'll be indoors for more than a few weeks before moving outside.
Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7-10 days, starting with an hour or two in dappled shade and working up to full sun. Transplant after the last frost date, when soil temperatures have reached at least 60°F but ideally 70°F or warmer. Space plants 6 inches apart along a sturdy vertical support, as they will climb steadily.
Direct sow seeds outdoors after the last frost date, when soil has warmed to at least 70°F. Plant seeds 1 inch deep and 6 inches apart along your trellis or pole structure.
Pick pods when they are young and tender, typically 3-4 inches long and still bright green. The winged edges should snap cleanly when bent. Begin harvesting around 120 days from sowing, and continue picking regularly to encourage continued flowering and pod development. Harvest every 2-3 days during peak production to keep the plant productive through the season.
As a pole bean with a vigorous climbing habit, Urizun benefits from tying or training its vines to the trellis as they grow. Pinch out the growing tip once the vine reaches the top of its support to encourage branching and bushier pod production lower on the plant.
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“Winged beans are native to equatorial Asia, where they've been cultivated for generations as a staple crop. Urizun emerged from Japanese horticultural traditions, where breeders selected for earlier flowering and reduced day-length sensitivity, solving one of the crop's most frustrating limitations. Jere Gettle, founder of Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, encountered winged beans firsthand on a trip to Thailand and became convinced of their potential for North American gardeners. Rather than confining these crops to equatorial regions or accepting long waits for pods in temperate zones, he sought out varieties like Urizun that had been bred to break free from the tyranny of day length. By preserving and distributing this Japanese cultivar, Baker Creek made a genuinely tropical vegetable accessible to gardeners across the United States.”