What Is the Fastest Growing Bean Plant?

Purple Queen

• Purple Queen beans (Phaseolus vulgaris "Purple Queen") are purple in color but turn green when cooked. This is long bean typically grows to 7 inches in overall length. The plants are hardy and prolific producers. The average gestation time is 52 days until the first harvest. This plant continues producing beans throughout the remainder of the growing season.

Early Bush Italian

• This bush bean has a compact growth pattern. It only reaches about 18 inches in height with individual pods 5-1/2 inches long. The gestation period is about 50 days. The pods are flat and, making them ideal for canning as well as freezing.

Burpee's Tenderpod

• Burpee Gardening Co. produces many different hybrids and varieties of plants. Their bush bean is an heirloom type that has a very traditional green bean taste. This variety is an All-American Winner and produces pods for harvest within 50 days. The pods are large and uniform in shape and produce stringless beans. The pods are generally around 4 to 5-1/2 inches in length. This is a very good variety for freezing.

Gold Mine

• Gold Mine (P. vulgaris "Gold Mine") is a yellow green bean that retains its color even after cooking. The pods are light pastel yellow and reach maturity at 55 days. The beans are grown in a clustering pattern for easy harvesting and the individual pods are about 5 to 5 1/2 inches in length. A very good variety for canning or freezing, this variety is also very naturally sweet and is popular among children who don't like a typical green bean taste.