Hello fellow gardeners and welcome to my blog! Today, I’m thrilled to share with you everything you need to know about growing Thai soldier long beans. These beans are one of my top favorite crops due to their uniqueness, flavor, and versatility in the kitchen. But above all, they are powerhouse producers, surpassing any other bean variety I've grown. I'm here to pass along all my knowledge about growing this exceptional bean so you can be successful growing it in your garden too.
Watch the video version of this guide: coming soon
What Are Thai Soldier Long Beans?
If you’re new to Thai soldier long beans, let me introduce this rare heirloom bean. They are part of the cowpea family just like yard long beans. The pods when picked young are edible and can be used just like green beans. On avergae, Thai Soldier long bean pods get around 8-10 inches long and are green with purple speckled patterns. Their tender, slightly sweet flavor makes them perfect for stir-frying, curries, or even grilling. Among the bean varieties I grow, these are the most prolific.
Why I Turned to Tropical Bean Alternatives
In my Florida garden, the extreme heat and tropical conditions make it challenging to grow regular green beans during the summer. That’s why I switched to growing tropical bean alternatives like Thai soldier long beans, which thrive in the heat. These beans are well-suited for warm climates, thriving in full sun, humid climates, and even tolerating poor soils.
Planting Thai Soldier Long Beans
So, how do you get started? First, find a sunny spot in your garden and ensure the frost danger has passed. If your area doesn’t experience frost, lucky you—these beans can be grown year-round in garden zones 11 and up. For most of us, planting takes place in late spring or early summer.
Thai Soldier long beans are a vigorous vining plant that does require something to grow up upon. If you want to learn how I build my easy vertical trellis systems, watch my YouTube video tutorial below.
I recommend direct sowing the seeds for ease, burying them an inch deep under a vertical trellis system. Keep the soil moist, and you should see germination in roughly five days if it’s warm enough.
Handling Pests and Diseases
Like most crops, Thai Soldier long beans can encounter a few pest and disease challenges. The most frequent issue I run into is aphids, which target the tender vine tips and newest growth. Since aphids also attract beneficial ladybugs, I prefer not to spray them. Instead, I knock them off with a strong jet of water from my hose. However, if the infestation becomes severe enough to miss-shape or reduce the size of the pods, I’ll use spinosad, which kills soft-bodied insects on contact.
Spider mites are another common pest, especially in spring. Their presence typically shows up as numerous tiny white spots on the leaves—small puncture wounds from feeding. You’ll need consistent applications of spinosad to eliminate them, and make sure to spray beneath the leaves (find the spinosad I use on Amazon HERE). A pressurized hand-pump sprayer with an angled nozzle is perfect for reaching those undersides (find the one I use on Amazon HERE).
When growing any variety of beans, including Thai Soldier long beans, I almost always see some bean leaf rollers, which are the caterpillar stage of the longtail skipper butterfly. You can identify them by the leaf edges they cut and roll in. My infestations have never been serious enough to treat, so I usually leave them alone. If you do encounter a major problem, BT (Bacillus thuringiensis) or spinosad can be effective.
In terms of diseases, Thai Soldier long beans demonstrate high resistance overall. However, they can still be susceptible to fungal issues like powdery mildew or rust when the environment is overly damp. To prevent these problems, ensure good air circulation and avoid watering the leaves directly. If I spot signs of a leaf disease, I’ll spray a mix of 1 cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide per 1 gallon of water once every 3–5 days until the spread stops.
Harvesting Your Bounty
In just about two months after planting, you’ll begin to see the flowers bloom, soon followed by the bean pods. Harvest when pods are 8 to 12 inches long by carefully snipping them to avoid damaging the vines. Regular harvesting boosts production. You can also let the pods dry out and shell out the beans to use as dried storage beans, but honestly, they’re best enjoyed fresh like green beans.
Enjoying Your Thai Soldier Long Beans
Once harvested, there are so many recipes and dishes that can be made with Thai Soldier long beans. They add a fresh crunch in stir-fries, salads, and soups, or serve a delightful, tangy twist when pickled. I have a recipe video on my other YouTube channel called Jerra's Fresh Kitchen that shows you how I make a Thai panang curry dish that uses Thai Soldier long beans as an ingredient. You can watch it below.
Coming soon
I hope this guide inspires you to grow Thai soldier long beans—they’re as rewarding to harvest as they are delicious to eat. I’d love to hear any questions or tips you might have, so drop a comment below.