Green Bean Varieties in the USA

Short-harvest Bush Beans

• “Contender” (Phaseolus vulgaris “Contender”) and “Topcrop” (Phaseolus vulgaris “Topcrop”) are grown throughout the USA. “Contender” plants grow to a height of 12 to 20 inches and are tolerant of hot summer temperatures and mildew. The stringless beans are 6 to 8 inches long and ready for harvest 40 to 55 days from germination. “Topcrop” plants grow to a height of 18 o 24 inches. The beans are 6 to 7 inches long and ready for harvest within 45 to 53 days. They are commonly grown to eat fresh but they are also good for canning or freezing.

Long-harvest Bush Beans

• “Blue Lake 274” (Phaseolus vulgaris “Blue Lake 274”) and “Romano Bush” (Phaseolus vulgaris “Romano Bush”) are popular bush green bean varieties in the USA. “Blue Lake 274” plants grow to a height of 12 to 22 inches. The green beans are 5 1/2 to 6 1/2 inches long with a fine texture and good flavor. The beans ripen nearly all at once within 54 and 61 days. They are commonly grown for canning and freezing. “Romano Bush” bean plants grow to 20 inches tall. They produce and abundance of stringless, 5-inch long beans that ripen within 50 to 70 days.

Short-harvest Pole Beans

• “Emerite” (Phaseolus vulgaris “Emerite”) and “Kentucky Blue” (Phaseolus vulgaris “Kentucky Blue”) are pole bean varieties commonly grown in the USA. “Emerite" vines grow to a length of 8 feet. They produce slender, stringless beans with a sweet flavor that can be eaten fresh and hold up well when frozen. The beans are ready to harvest within 55 to70 days. When the pods reach a length of 4 to 5 inches, they are ready to be picked for tender beans. At a length of 7 to 9 inches, the pods become crisp and brittle. “Kentucky Blue” vines stay smaller and are good for planting in smaller gardens. Its sweet-flavored, stringless beans are ready for harvest within 51 to 73 days. The beans have the best flavor when they are 6 to 7 inches long.

Long-harvest Pole Beans

• “Blue Lake” (Phaseolus vulgaris “Blue Lake”) and “Kwintus” (Phaseolus vulgaris “Kwintus”) are pole bean varieties commonly grown in the USA. “Blue Lake” green beans produce vigorous vines that are heavy producers for an extended season. Its stringless, flavorful beans are ready to harvest after 62 to 75 days when the beans are 5 1/2 to 7 inches long. They are eaten fresh and are also good for baking, canning and freezing. “Kwintus” beans have vigorous vines that grow to a length of 8 feet and produce 11-inch long flavorful beans over an extended season. The beans are ready to harvest in 60 to 80 days.