How to Grow Chinese Long Beans (Yardlong Beans)

By: Angela Judd | Updated: June 16, 2026

Most beans quit in the low desert by June. Chinese long beans, also called yardlong or asparagus beans, are just getting started. If you’ve ever planted green beans in a hot summer climate, you know the pattern. They grow, give you a handful of pods, then the heat hits and they’re done. Crispy leaves, no more flowers, nothing to pick. I’ve watched it happen in my own Mesa garden more times than I can count. But asparagus beans keep climbing, flowering, and handing me a harvest almost every day right through the summer.

In this post, I’ll show you how to grow Chinese long beans and when to plant them so they establish before the worst of the heat, how to trellis them, and how to harvest so they keep producing. If you’re not sure what to plant in hot summer climates, my low desert vegetable planting guide includes planting dates for most crops throughout the year.

A metal colander filled with freshly picked green and purple yardlong beans.

Key Takeaways: Growing Yardlong Beans

Chinese long beans thrive in heat, unlike regular snap beans, which struggle in high temperatures.
Plant yardlong beans after the last frost, ideally from mid-March to July, so they can establish before extreme heat.
Provide support for these vigorous climbers, as asparagus beans can grow up to 12 feet tall.
Water regularly and manage pests like aphids and spider mites to ensure healthy growth.
Harvest beans when they are 10-12 inches long for the best flavor, and continue picking to promote more production.

What We’ll Cover

Why Chinese Long Beans Handle Desert Heat
When to Plant Yardlong Beans
Selecting the Right Location
Planting and Caring for Asparagus Beans
Support for Vertical Growth
Harvesting Asparagus Beans
Saving Yardlong Bean Seeds for Next Season
What to Do With All Those Beans
Chinese Long Bean FAQ’s

Why Chinese Long Beans Handle Desert Heat

Regular snap beans drop their flowers once temperatures get above the mid-80s. Asparagus beans keep setting pods right through it. That’s because they aren’t really green beans. They’re a relative of the cowpea from the tropics of Southeast Asia, and they’re built for heat and humidity. Once the monsoon moisture arrives, they increase production even more.

A few things make the difference. They’ve got deeper roots. The leaves and pods have a waxy coating that holds water in. And because they came from a hot, humid part of the world, our summer is closer to home for them than it is for a green bean.

You’ll see them slow down a little in the dry heat of June, then take off again when the monsoon humidity arrives. That’s normal.

This is the same reason I lean on a short list of plants that actually like our summers. If you want to see what else earns its spot when everything else gives up, here’s what survives an Arizona summer garden.

When to Plant Yardlong Beans

Asparagus beans are a warm-season crop. Wait until after the last frost, when the soil has warmed to at least 60˚F (15˚C). They need a long growing season with warm temperatures, so late spring to early summer is the ideal time to plant them. These beans need at least 75 days of frost-free weather to reach maturity, making them perfect for hot climates where other vegetables may struggle.

Green bean plants with small white flowers growing in sunlight. — Yard-Long Bean Blossoms

Here in the low desert, you can plant asparagus beans anywhere from mid-March through July. The timing within that window is what makes the difference. You want them in the ground before it gets really hot, or planted when the monsoon humidity arrives.

Selecting the Right Location

Asparagus beans thrive in well-drained soil, and while they don’t require particularly rich soil, adding compost at planting will improve growth. You can also use a nitrogen-fixing inoculant on the seeds or in the soil to boost growth. No additional fertilizer is recommended.

Beans make excellent companions for tomatoes and cucumbers, especially since they help enrich the soil. For more ideas on what to plant near cucumbers, check out this post on cucumber companion plants. This crop can also play an important role in the Three Sisters Grow Bag Garden, a traditional companion-planting method adapted for containers—learn how to incorporate it alongside corn and squash (or their alternatives) for the best results.

A hand pressing soil around young green plants in a garden bed, next to a plant tag and garden trellis.

Full sun is crucial, so choose a location with at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight. In hot climates, a spot that offers afternoon shade can help prevent plant stress.

These heat-loving beans grow best when the air temperature is between 77-95˚F (25-35˚C). To maximize yield, avoid planting yard-long beans in areas where legumes (like peas or other beans) were grown the previous year to prevent soil-borne diseases.

Looking for more warm-season beans? Learn how to grow lima beans for a productive and delicious crop that does well in hot climates.

Planting and Caring for Asparagus Beans

Plant the seeds about an inch deep and three inches apart. If you’re growing them up a pole, plant four to six seeds around the base of each one.

Seeds are the most economical option, and they germinate quickly in warm soil. I’ve also been surprised by how well transplants do. So if you’re waiting on your soil to warm up, or you come across a few starts, don’t be afraid to use them. Good soil gives them a strong start, which is one more reason I keep up with in-bed worm composting.

One more tip from experience. If rollie pollies are eating your bean seedlings, sprinkle a little iron phosphate slug and snail bait around them. It keeps the seedlings from disappearing overnight.

A hand holding assorted beans and another hand tending to young bean plants in a garden bed.

Consistent moisture is vital for healthy plants. Water deeply once a week, increasing frequency in hot, dry weather. Be careful not to water the leaves, which can lead to fungal diseases.

Common Pests and Diseases of Yard Long Beans:

Pests: Aphids, spider mites, and bean beetles can be problematic. Regularly check your plants for signs of infestation, and handpick pests to keep them under control.
Diseases: Watch for bacterial blight and mosaic virus; avoid them by ensuring good air circulation and not working in wet foliage.

Support for Vertical Growth

Green vines growing over a metal garden trellis under a white canopy in bright sunlight.

Asparagus beans are vigorous climbers, often reaching heights of 10-12 feet (3-3.6 m) or more. Because asparagus beans grow so quickly, it helps to have support in place early, and these inexpensive vertical gardening ideas give you several simple options. Plant your beans at the base of a trellis, fence, or cattle panel to support this growth. Once they reach the top of your trellis, snip the ends to keep them in bounds.

A long red bean hanging from a vine, surrounded by green leaves on a garden trellis.

Harvesting Asparagus Beans

Although they’re often called “yard-long” beans, you should harvest asparagus beans for the best flavor when they are about 10-12 inches (25-30 cm) long. Pick them while they are still slender and before the seeds inside fully develop. The flavor will deteriorate if the pods become soft or spongy, as the beans are over-mature.

To harvest, twist the beans off the vine rather than pulling them to avoid damaging the plant. These beans often grow in pairs at the terminal bud, and removing them gently will encourage further production.

Close-up of hands pinching off the top of a green bean plant, surrounded by green foliage outdoors.

Tip: Harvest yard-long beans regularly to promote more beans. If you leave beans on the vine for too long, the plant will slow down production as it focuses on maturing its seeds.

Edamame beans offer another delicious garden option—check out my tips for growing edamame successfully at home.

Person harvesting beans in a lush garden surrounded by green plants and climbing vines on a sunny day.

Saving Yardlong Bean Seeds for Next Season

If you want to save seeds for next year, leave a few pods on the healthiest plants until the seeds inside are fully developed and the pods turn dry and papery. Once mature, remove the pods, shell the seeds, and store them in a cool, dry place. Seed-saving ensures you have a stock of asparagus beans ready to plant for the following growing season.

Two images show hands harvesting and inspecting beans growing on a green plant outdoors.

What to Do With All Those Beans

Once you’ve got a basket of these, the question is how to cook them. Because they’re denser and hold less water than a green bean, they’re built for quick, high-heat cooking.

My favorite way is a 15-minute garlic-ginger-and-sesame stir-fry. I wrote the full method up separately so this post can stay focused on growth. Here’s the recipe: Blistered Chinese Long Beans with Garlic, Ginger, and Sesame.

A metal colander filled with freshly picked long green beans sits outdoors in a garden.

Chinese Long Bean FAQ’s

Are asparagus beans and yardlong beans the same thing?

Yes. Asparagus beans, yardlong beans, and snake beans are all names for the same plant, a relative of the cowpea grown for its long, tender pods.

When should I plant yardlong beans in Arizona?

Plant anytime from mid-March through July in the low desert. Aim to get them established before the worst of the dry heat, or plant them as the monsoon humidity comes in. Wait until your soil is above 60 degrees in spring.

Why do my regular green beans die in the summer heat?

Snap beans drop their flowers once temperatures climb past the mid-eighties, so they stop setting pods. Asparagus beans keep producing in that same heat because of deeper roots and a waxy coating that holds moisture.

How do you know when to pick asparagus beans?

Pick them when they’re firm and about the thickness of a pencil. If they feel spongy or limp, they’ve gone too far and will be tough.