Type: Warm Season Annual • Family: Fabaceae (Legume, Vigna) • Sun: Full sun (8+ hours) • Water: Moderate (consistent during pod set) • Soil pH: 6.0-7.5 • Hardiness: Extremely heat-loving
Planting Calendar (Zone 6b/7a)
| Method | Timing | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Start indoors | Not recommended | Direct sow—resents transplanting. |
| Direct sow | May 20 - July 1 | After soil 70°F+. Needs more heat than common beans. Sow 1" deep, 4-6" apart at base of 6-8' trellis. Germination 7-14 days at 75°F+. |
| Transplant | N/A | Direct sow only. |
| Days to maturity | 60-80 days | |
| Succession plant | Every 3 weeks through July 1 |
Expected Yield
- Per plant: 0.5-1 lb per plant
- Per 10' row: 8-15 lbs per 10' row on trellis
- Per season: 12-20 lbs per 10' row
Growing Conditions
- Soil: Well-drained, moderate fertility. Similar to cowpeas—tolerates heat and poor soil. Inoculate with cowpea inoculant. Needs sturdy tall trellis—vigorous climbers.
- Fertilizer: Light feeder. Inoculant + compost. No extra nitrogen needed.
- Companions: Corn, squash, okra, sweet potatoes, cowpeas
- Avoid: Alliums, fennel
- Pests: Generally pest-resistant. Aphids on new growth. Spider mites in very hot, dry weather.
- Diseases: Root rot in wet soil. Generally disease-resistant.
Heirloom & Recommended Varieties
'Red Noodle'
Stunning deep red pods, 18"+ long. Sweet, nutty flavor—less beany. Best when young and tender. Showstopper at market.
'Green Noodle'
Long green pods, 16-18". Classic yardlong bean—asparagus-like, slightly sweet. Very productive in WV heat.
'Orient Wonder'
Semi-pod type, 16-20". Very productive. Adapted to more temperate conditions. Best choice for WV's variable summer heat.
'Thai Long'
Light green pods up to 24". Traditional in Thai cuisine. Extremely productive in sustained heat. Pick before pods thicken.
Cultural History & Domestication
Yardlong beans are a subspecies of cowpea, developed in Southeast Asia for their long, tender pods. Cultivated in China and Southeast Asia for over 1,000 years, they are prized for their unique asparagus-like flavor. Unlike common beans, yardlong beans thrive in the hottest part of summer when other beans falter. They arrived in the US through Asian immigrant communities and are still underappreciated in most American gardens.
Seed Saving
Same as cowpeas—self-pollinating. Let pods dry on vine until brittle. Shell and dry. Isolation distance: 20-50 feet. Viability: 3-5 years.
The Loop Farmstead Standard
- Compost: 1-2 inches annually (on-farm production)
- Cover crops: Rye + vetch (fall), buckwheat (summer), daikon (compaction)
- Wood chips: Pathways only (aged 2+ years for beds)
- Fall leaves: Mulch or compost browns
- Blood/bone meal: From farm-slaughtered animals
- Biochar: Charged with compost tea (permanent carbon)
- Wood ash: Light application from wood stove
- Eggshells: Crushed/powdered (slow calcium)
Never used: Synthetic fertilizers, mined minerals, gypsum, peat moss