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How to Grow Asparagus Beans

Asparagus beans, also known as yardlong beans, snake beans, or Chinese long beans, are a summer favorite that flourish in hot weather and produce abundantly. In addition to being easy to grow, they are rich in protein, vitamin B, iron, and calcium. Learn how to grow asparagus beans with these 5 helpful tips.

How to Grow Asparagus Beans - 5 Tips for Growing Yardlong Beans

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5 Tips for How to Grow Yardlong Beans

How to Grow Asparagus Beans - 5 Tips for Growing Yardlong Beans

1. Plant asparagus beans at the right time

How to Grow Asparagus Beans - 5 Tips for Growing Yardlong Beans

Asparagus beans are a warm-season crop. They should be planted outdoors once the danger of frost has passed and soil temperatures are consistently above 50˚F (10˚C). This is usually late spring or early summer. Asparagus bean seeds sprout and grow best in warm weather, and need a long, warm growing season (at least 75 days of frost-free weather).

When summer temperatures climb, many vegetables can’t take the heat – but asparagus beans flourish.

In the low desert of Arizona, plant from March 15 through July.

Varieties to Try:

How to Grow Asparagus Beans - 5 Tips for Growing Yardlong Beans

Perpetual Herb, Fruit & Vegetable Planting Calendar Zone 9b
  • PLANTING GUIDE: Each month lists vegetables, fruit & herbs to plant outside & seeds to start indoors.
  • HARVEST GUIDE: Photos show what may be ready to harvest that month.
  • Planting dates are for the low desert of Arizona (zone 9b).

2. Choose a good location to plant snake beans

How to Grow Asparagus Beans - 5 Tips for Growing Yardlong Beans

Asparagus beans thrive in well-drained soil. Beans don’t need overly-rich soil, but appreciate some extra compost when planting. Asparagus beans prefer full sun, so choose a location that receives at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight. If you live in a hot climate, consider planting your beans in a spot that receives some shade during the hottest part of the day.

These beans love warmth and grow best when the air temperature is between 77-95˚F (25-35˚C).

  • Don’t grow where legumes (peas or other beans) have grown the previous year. 
  • Increase the harvest by using an inoculant of nitrogen-fixing bacteria on the seed or in the soil at planting time. 

3. Plant seeds in the garden – don’t transplant them

How to Grow Asparagus Beans - 5 Tips for Growing Yardlong Beans

Beans, as a general rule, should be direct sown in the garden. The root systems of beans are shallow and grow best when undisturbed. Plant seeds 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep. Space beans 3-4 inches (7-10 cm) apart. Once your seedlings emerge, thin them to 6-8 inches (15-20 cm) apart.

Asparagus beans need consistent moisture to thrive. Water them deeply once a week, and more frequently during hot, dry weather. Avoid getting the leaves wet when watering, which can lead to fungal diseases. Overwatering, however, can cause the roots to rot.

Asparagus beans need consistent moisture to thrive. Water them deeply once a week, and more frequently during hot, dry weather. Avoid getting the leaves wet when watering, as this can lead to fungal diseases. Overwatering, however, can cause the roots to rot.

Common diseases include bacterial blight and mosaic virus. To prevent these, ensure good air circulation around your plants and avoid working in your garden when the foliage is wet.

Pests can include aphids, spider mites, and bean beetles. Regularly check your plants for signs of these pests. Check plants daily, remove infected leaves, and handpick pests to prevent problems from becoming larger.

Pests can include aphids, spider mites, and bean beetles. Regularly check your plants for signs of these pests. Check plants daily, remove infected leaves and handpick pests to prevent problems from becoming larger.
Spider mites on bean leaves

4. Give snake beans something to climb

Asparagus beans are happiest when growing up, and will easily climb 10 -12 feet or more. Plant bean seeds at the base of a trellis or cattle panel with plenty of straight vertical supports. Put supports in place at planting time to avoid disrupting roots of growing plants. 

Asparagus beans are happiest when growing up, and will easily climb 10-12 feet (3-3.6 m) or more. Plant bean seeds at the base of a trellis or cattle panel with plenty of straight vertical supports. Put supports in place at planting time to avoid disrupting roots of growing plants. 

Growing asparagus beans vertically not only helps manage the plant’s growth but also keeps the beans off the ground, reducing the risk of disease. It also makes harvesting easier, and keeps the beans from being eaten by ground-living insects (rollie-pollies, I’m talking about you!)

Although called “yardlong” beans, harvest the beans when they are between 10-12 inches long for best flavor. Pick the beans when they are still slender, before the seeds inside have fully developed. If the pod becomes soft or spongy, you’ve waited too long; the beans inside the pod are developing and the pod’s flavor changes.

5. Harvest asparagus beans correctly

Although called “yardlong” beans, harvest the beans when they are between 10-12 inches long for best flavor. Pick the beans when they are still slender, before the seeds inside have fully developed. If the pod becomes soft or spongy, you’ve waited too long; the beans inside the pod are developing and the pod’s flavor changes.

Although called “yardlong” beans, harvest the beans when they are between 10-12 inches (25-30 cm) long for best flavor. Pick the beans when they are still slender, before the seeds inside have fully developed. If the pod becomes soft or spongy, you’ve waited too long; the beans inside the pod are developing and the pod’s flavor changes.

How to Grow Asparagus Beans - 5 Tips for Growing Yardlong Beans
To harvest the beans, twist the bean off the vine rather than pulling. Asparagus beans are usually produced in pairs at the terminal bud. Twisting off the beans will leave the vine intact and ready to produce more beans.

To harvest the beans, twist the bean off the vine rather than pulling. Asparagus beans are usually produced in pairs at the terminal bud. Twisting off the beans will leave the vine intact and ready to produce more beans.

To harvest the beans, twist the bean off the vine rather than pulling. Asparagus beans are usually produced in pairs at the terminal bud. Twisting off the beans will leave the vine intact and ready to produce more beans.
Terminal bud on asparagus beans

Snake beans grow fast and should be harvested often. Keeping beans picked encourages more production. Leaving plants on the vine signals to the plant that its job is about over, and it slows down production.

To save seeds from asparagus beens leave several beans on the strongest plant until they are mature with large seeds inside a papery husk. Save them inside in a brown paper sack until completely dry to share and plant next season. Store the seeds in a cool, dry place until you are ready to plant them.

To save seeds from asparagus beens, leave several beans on the strongest plant until they are mature with large seeds inside a papery husk. Save them inside in a brown paper sack until completely dry to share and plant next season. Store the seeds in a cool, dry place until you are ready to plant them.

To save seeds from asparagus beens leave several beans on the strongest plant until they are mature with large seeds inside a papery husk. Save them inside in a brown paper sack until completely dry to share and plant next season. Store the seeds in a cool, dry place until you are ready to plant them.
How to Grow Asparagus Beans - 5 Tips for Growing Yardlong Beans

If this post about how to grow yardlong beans was helpful, please share it:

Diane

Thursday 27th of July 2023

Hi! We planted a whole pack of seeds and 4 germinated. They are growing tho and with some help, climbing the hog panel that we turned on its side (one shoot has surpassed that height; reaching for the stars??). my question is: how big around should I let the beans get for optimal flavor? Thanks for your site-very informative!

Angela Judd

Monday 31st of July 2023

Depends on the type of bean, but usually around 10-12 inches long. Pick them before they get puffy and the seeds inside begin to develop.

April

Wednesday 21st of June 2023

Thanks for your article on Asparagus beans. Informative for those of us determined to make things grow here in Tucson.

I have a question though… Do the bean plants ever get tendrils and climb the support… or do I need to train and tie the vine to the trellis? Mine are ever so slowly getting taller— probably 2 ft tall or so…. And although the extreme edges of the leaves are a tad crispy, overall, I think they are thriving. But… nary a tendril in sight. I don’t want to let them keep getting taller without knowing if I need to tie them up… do I just need to let them do their thing?

Thanks.

Angela Judd

Wednesday 21st of June 2023

Hi April - good question! They actually don't have tendrils - the vine itself is what will wrap and climb around your support. It may need help finding it initially, but I've never had to tie the vines to the support. You can let them do their thing. Yay for easy crops!

Cindy

Monday 19th of June 2023

How do you cook yours? Do you cut like a green bean, or do you take out the beans and eat then? Struggling with what to do with all these beans! These are fun to grow and do well in a grow bag that holds 10 gallons of soil. I have allyssum growing at the base -- like that too and provides shade. :-)

Angela Judd

Wednesday 21st of June 2023

It depends on when I harvest them. If I catch them young, then we eat them similar to green beans (we love them in stir-fry) If they get away from me and get large then it's a struggle because they aren't as tender.

Poornima

Friday 19th of May 2023

Hi, where can I find seeds for yardlong beans?

Angela Judd

Tuesday 23rd of May 2023

I get mine from Botanical Interests, here's a link: https://shrsl.com/42vwi

Sherri

Sunday 26th of March 2023

Hi - what do asparagus beans taste like? Are they similar to regular green beans?

Thanks!

Angela Judd

Tuesday 4th of April 2023

They are good, but not quite as good as regular beans,in my opinion. Not as fresh tasting if that makes sense.