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Bush Beans — Phaseolus vulgaris

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Bush Beans — Phaseolus vulgaris

layout: base.njk title: Bush Beans description: Growing Bush Beans in West Virginia (Zone 6b/7a) category: warm-season

Quick Reference: See detailed growing information below

Type: Annual
Family: Fabaceae (Legume)
Sun: Full sun (6-8+ hours)
Water: Moderate (1" per week)
Soil pH: 6.0-6.8
Hardiness: Annual (frost-tender)

🌱 Expected Yield

  • Per plant: 0.5-1 lb (varies by variety and harvest frequency)
  • Per 10' row: 4-8 lbs (continuous harvesting)
  • Notes: Yield depends heavily on frequent harvesting—picking every 2-3 days keeps plants productive. Soil temperature critical for germination; cold soil causes rot. Inoculant increases yield 20-30% by promoting nitrogen fixation.

🏺 Heirloom Varieties

'Dragon Tongue'

  • Source: Baker Creek (rareseeds.com), Seed Savers Exchange (seedsavers.org)
  • Days: 55 days
  • Notes: Dutch heirloom. Yellow pods with purple streaking. Beautiful bicolor. Sweet, tender flavor. Purple fades when cooked. Vigorous plants. Excellent fresh or cooked.

'Royal Burgundy'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Southern Exposure (southernexposure.com)
  • Days: 50 days
  • Notes: Purple pods turn green when cooked. High anthocyanin content. Sweet flavor. Productive plants. Beautiful in the garden. Kids love the color change.

'Provider'

  • Source: Multiple seed companies
  • Days: 50 days
  • Notes: All-America Selections winner. Dark green pods. Reliable producer even in cool soil. Early maturing. Good for short seasons. Tender, flavorful.

'Blue Lake 274'

  • Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek
  • Days: 58 days
  • Notes: Classic American heirloom from Blue Lake, California. Round, dark green pods. Excellent flavor—considered best-tasting bush bean. Vigorous plants. Standard for home gardens.

'Contender'

  • Source: Southern Exposure, Baker Creek
  • Days: 50 days
  • Notes: Heat-tolerant variety. Green pods, 6-7". Reliable in hot weather. Good for Southern gardens. Tender, stringless. Productive.

'Kentucky Wonder' (Bush Type)

  • Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Southern Exposure
  • Days: 55 days
  • Notes: Bush form of famous pole bean. Flat, green pods. Rich, "beany" flavor. Tender when young. Traditional variety. Excellent for fresh eating and cooking.

'Golden Wax'

  • Source: Multiple seed companies
  • Days: 52 days
  • Notes: Classic yellow wax bean. Golden pods, easy to see when harvesting. Sweet, mild flavor. Tender. Good contrast in mixed dishes. Reliable producer.

'Purple Teepee'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Johnny's Seeds (johnnyseeds.com)
  • Days: 50 days
  • Notes: Deep purple pods. Turns green when cooked. Compact plants (12-14"). High yield. Sweet flavor. Ornamental value. Good for containers.

'Spanish Bronze'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Seed Savers Exchange
  • Days: 55 days
  • Notes: Bronze-purple foliage and pods. Striking appearance. Green pods when cooked. Sweet flavor. Ornamental and edible. Rare variety.

'Rocquencourt'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Southern Exposure
  • Days: 52 days
  • Notes: French heirloom. Yellow pods. Buttery, rich flavor. Tender, stringless. Traditional French market variety. Excellent for gourmet cooking.

'Jade'

  • Source: Multiple seed companies
  • Days: 56 days
  • Notes: Dark green, slender pods. Straight, uniform shape. Excellent flavor. Vigorous plants. Good for fresh market. Stringless.

'Apinga'

  • Source: Baker Creek, specialty seed companies
  • Days: 60 days
  • Notes: Dutch heirloom. Yellow pods. Sweet, nutty flavor. Productive plants. Less common than other wax beans. Worth seeking for unique flavor.

'Borlotti' (Bush Type)

  • Source: Baker Creek, Italian seed exchanges
  • Days: 58 days
  • Notes: Italian heirloom. Cream pods with red speckling. Grown for shelling beans. Sweet, creamy beans. Beautiful dried beans. Bush form available. Traditional in Italian cooking.

🌾 Seed Saving

Method: 1. Choose healthy, vigorous plants with desirable traits 2. Leave pods on plants until fully mature—pods will turn brown and dry, rattling when shaken 3.

Harvest dry pods before heavy rain (can cause molding) 4. Spread pods in single layer in dry, ventilated area; cure 1-2 weeks 5. Shell beans by hand; pods should be brittle 6.

Winnow to remove debris—pour beans between bowls in light breeze 7. Ensure beans are completely dry (test by biting—should be hard, not chewy) 8. Store in glass jars or paper envelopes in cool, dry, dark place 9.

Add desiccant packet if humidity high.

Note: Beans for shelling/drying are harvested at full maturity; beans for eating fresh are harvested young.

Isolation Distance: - Primarily self-pollinating: Bean flowers are self-fertile - Minimum: 10-20 feet between varieties - For seed sale: 150-500 feet or cage flowers - Note: Some crossing occurs via bees (5-10%); isolate for pure varieties

Viability: 3-5 years under proper storage. Germination declines after year 3; test germination before planting older seed.

Special Notes: - One pod yields 4-8 seeds - Save from 10-20 plants for genetic diversity - Select for flavor, productivity, disease resistance, earliness, pod quality - Beans are susceptible to seed-borne diseases—only save from healthy plants - Label carefully—many varieties look similar as dried seeds - For fresh-eating varieties, save from first healthy pods to maintain earliness

Added to WV Planting Guide 26155 — The Loop Farmstead