Does a Long Bean Plant Have a Creeping Stem?

Features

• The name yard-long is a misnomer, because the average length of the mature long bean is roughly 10 to 20 inches. They are best harvested at about 10 to 12 inches and the circumference of a pencil, as this is the stage at which they are the most tender. The yard-long bean is a true legume, as it enriches the soil it grows in with nitrogen it manufactures on its own roots. It was discovered in southern Asia and is now grown commercially there as well as in Europe and North America. While it resembles and is used much like a pole bean, it is more closely related to the southern cowpea, but it is more of a climbing and trailing plant than its southern relative, growing to a maximum of 12 feet in some cases.

Growing Long Beans

• Long beans do best in soil with a pH between 5.5 and 7.5, but they tolerate more acidic soil as long as it is loose and doesn't contain too much nitrogen, which can cause more leaf growth but less bean production. The site should be in full sun and the soil worked about 8 to 10 inches deep before planting. Compost or aged manure worked into the soil in the spring improves fertility. The hotter the better is the general rule, as long beans cannot tolerate any cold and must be planted when the soil has warmed to at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Plant seeds 2 inches deep in loose soil, an inch deep in heavier soil, and three to four inches apart in the row. Once established, thin the plants so that they are six to 12 inches apart. Seeds germinate in about a week, and the plants begin producing beans as the weather warms. Supplemental watering is suggested during very dry spells.

Support Systems

• The aggressively creeping vines need support in the form of a trellis or other strong structure to climb on, and they must be trained to climb, which means manually wrapping the young vines around part of the trellis to get them started. If using poles, be sure to position them so that they are not perfectly vertical, as the bean vines creep more aggressively along a more horizontal path, also allowing the beans to hang away from the foliage. Wrap the ends of the vines around the poles and check them often to be sure they are twining properly.

Harvesting and Using Long Beans

• Long beans grow in pairs from pinkish-lavender flowers that emerge along the creeping vines and are ready for harvest when their skins are smooth and the seeds not yet noticeable through the pods' outer shells. Once the weather warms up and production increases dramatically, daily picking is often needed. For use as dry shelling beans, just leave them on the vines until the beans have enlarged inside the dried pods. Remove them from the pods and store them as you would any other dry bean in a cool dark place. You can also use some of these dried beans to plant a new crop next year. Long beans are prepared like other pole snap beans by cutting them into shorter pieces and steaming or sauteing. The beans can also be frozen by first plunging them into boiling water and then into ice water, a process known as blanching and shocking, before placing them in freezer bags.