Grow Yard Long Beans

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Gardening Information by UC Master Gardeners of Napa County

Author: Jane Callier

Published on: May 11, 2014

The Field Test Committee of UC Master Gardeners of Napa County will plant yard long beans as their summer crop. Two varieties have been chosen, Orient Wonder and Red Noodle.

Grow some yard longs with the Master Gardeners! Seed is readily available from catalogs and nurseries.

Beans require moderately warm weather and soil conditions. Plant your beans in succession in May, June, and July to extend the harvest.

Follow the directions on your seed packet. Direct seeding is most successful because young bean seedlings are extremely sensitive to injury and do not transplant easily.

Beans grow best in full sun all day, and need 1 inch of water every 7 to 10 days to encourage deep rooting.

Fertilizer usually is not needed at planting, but keep in mind that beans have a low to moderate need for nitrogen fertilizer. Use care not to over fertilize.

Stake or trellis your beans when they start to vine. Use anything sturdy enough to support bean vines. Old ladders, bamboo stakes, and long sticks stacked into a teepee shape are a few ideas for staking.

Pods will form 2 to 3 weeks after flowers. Begin harvesting when your beans are young, about 18” long, approximately 80 – 90 days after planting. Pick every 3 to 5 days and remove all pods to prolong production. When plants get dry they quit growing for the season, so remove them after harvest or when leaves yellow and begin to drop. If you want to plant them again, you may want to let a few pods mature and save the seeds for next season.

Pests you might encounter are rabbits, birds, gophers, aphids (and ants), squirrels, and rats. Control aphids/ants by a forceful stream of water. Use gopher wire if you suspect you have gophers.

UC Master Gardeners of Napa County provide free home gardening advice. Visit, call or complete the Plant Problem Diagnosis Sheet for assistance.

Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
UC Cooperative Extension
1710 Soscol Avenue, Suite 4, Napa
(707) 253-4143

http://ucanr.edu/sites/ucmgnapa/

Comments: 1

Comments:

by Rachelle A Benney

on June 13, 2014 at 10:42 AM

sorry to report but 1/2 my first bean plantings have failed to thrive. They are hanging on, but I have more hope in the second batch that I planted when I got back from my trip in the beginning of June. The earlier leggy batch gets morning shade. This newer planting is as advised in the full sun all day, and those spouts are more vigorous looking.
I also planted some at my community garden plot they got eaten by cucumber beetles in my absence.
I plan to check for more seeds at the store and hope to do a new batch in July as well.