This is the ultimate growing guide on everything you need to know to successfully grow yard long beans aka asparagus bean aka Chinese noodle beans. I switch to growing yard long beans during the summer when regular bush/pole beans do not grow well. They produce an abundance of long and crunchy pods in about 2 to 2.5 months from seed, with very little care or attention. Therefore, I recommend this crop to all beginner gardeners.
Check out my YouTube video version of this guide here:
Cultivar Selection
- Color - Comes in a range of color from green like the standard dark green yard long bean, to red like the Red Noodle yard long bean, or even purple, and white.
- Bean pod length - pods can get 1 yard long. There are some cultivars that are even longer.
- Flavor and texture are pretty much the same across the cultivars.
Ideal Growing Conditions For Yard Long Beans
- Vertical Structure - This is a vining plant and will require some type of a trellis structure. I have two types of trellis structures that work great for growing yard long beans. The first is a structure made from 2 T posts, a 3/4 inch electrical conduit pipe, some PVC T fittings, and mesh vinyl trellis. You can find the supplies I use on Amazon HERE. They also grow fantastic over arched trellises like a cattle panel trellis.
- Sun Requirements - This is a tropical sun loving crop and requires full sun or a minimum of 8 hours of light per day.
- Soil Requirements - It grows great in soil heavy in organic matter but also grows well in poor soils like native Florida sandy soil. They are in the cowpea family which is known to grow well in poor soils.
When To Sow Seeds For Yard Long Beans
Direct sow seeds after your last spring frost date has passed. OR if you want to get an early start on your season, or if your having issues with germination - sow 1 seed per 72 cell seed tray, indoors 3 weeks before your last spring frost date to essentially grow your own plugs. Succession sow more seeds every 4 weeks to extend the harvest period.
How To Grow Yard Long Beans & Plant Care Tips
- Water Requirements - Keep the soil consistently moist. If the plants dry out, the pods can be misshapen.
- Pruning - No need to prune except for dead, old, diseased leaves to prevent spread of diseases and deter pests.
- Pinch off the tips of the vines to promote more branching = more flowers = more bean pod production.
- Fertilizing - Do not fertilize. Too much nitrogen will cause the plant to focus on leafy green growth instead of producing flowers and pods.
Yard Long Beans Common Pests & Diseases
Yard Long Beans are generally resistant to pests and diseases, but it's important to monitor the plants.
- Aphids - I often see black aphids on my yard long beans. They tend to attack the tender tips or new growth. They are a food source for lady bugs and other beneficial insects, so as much as it looks gross, I just leave it alone. You can spray them off with a strong blast of water from your water hose. If the situation gets very bad, and you notice the health of the plants is declining or the bean pods are misshapen then spray with peppermint, rosemary, neem oil, insecticidal soap, or spinosad spray.
- Leaf Rollers - Various moth or Skipper butterfly caterpillars will cut the leaves at the edges and roll them in. I usually just leave this alone as its not so much damage that it actually affects production. However, for severe infestations spray with BT (bacillus thurigensis) organic spray which I get from Amazon HERE.
- Leaf diseases like powdery mildew, blight, and yellowing spots are common. Spray with 1C hydrogen peroxide (3%) per gallon of water.
How & When To Harvest Yard Long Beans
Yard Long Beans are typically ready for harvest around 60-90 days after sowing. Harvest pods that are firm, crisp, and have reached pencil thickness. There is a specific "sweet spot" to harvesting the perfect yard long bean. You obviously want them to grow as long as possible, but you want to harvest them before they get fibrous. Squeeze the pods and if they feel crunchy then it is perfect for harvesting. If you squeeze the pods and it feels "airy" or flimsy, or the beans inside have swelled, then its past due and really not the best texture for eating. Frequent harvesting will make the plants produce more pods.
How To Store Your Yard Long Bean Harvest
Yard long beans store in a zip loc bag in the fridge for about 2 weeks. Or par boil the beans for 1 minute, dry, and freeze.
Yard Long Bean Recipes
These beans are incredibly versatile and can be used in stir-fries, curries, salads, and even pickled. My favorite recipe is to stir fry them with soy sauce and garlic marinated shitake mushrooms.
If you have any favorite recipes or great ways to preserve a yard long bean harvest, please comment below.