There are hundreds of bean varieties from which to choose. While we list here some of our favorites, there are new varieties and better varieties we don't know about. For excellent info on the best bean varieties by state go to the vegetable variety data collection project at Cornell University - www.vegvariety.cce.cornell.edu. We urge you to join this valuable site and contribute your own ratings of varieties.
Bush-type Snap Beans
‘Blue Lake 274’: This green bush bean has excellent flavor and is disease resistant too. Vigorous plants produce lots of pods that are 6 to 7 inches long. A 28 gram packet plants about 15 row feet; a 56.7 gram packet plants about 30. These beans are ready to pick in about 55 days.
- 55 Days to Harvest
- Plant 1-1/2-inch Deep, 20-inch Row Spacing & 4-inch Plant Spacing
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The standard for green snap pole beans, and a favorite for years. Mild-flavored too. They can also be grown for shell beans. Although they need support, they will produce for a long time. A 28 gram packet plants about 30 row feet; a 56.7 gram packet plants about 60. They’re ready to harvest in about 62 days.
- Heirloom Variety
- Guaranteed To Grow
- 55 Days to Harvest
- Plant 1-inch to 1-1/2-inch Deep, 20-inch Row Spacing & 4-inch Plant Spacing
- High in Vitamins A, B & C
‘Bush Romano’: This green bush type bears very distinctive flat pods; often called “Italian” beans, they’re very flavorful, slightly chewy, really good. Pods are 5 inches long and almost 3/4 inch across. Delicious fresh, or use as a shell bean. A 28 gram packet plants about 10 row feet; a 56.7 gram packet plants about 20. Pick these in about 56 days.
- 56 Days to Harvest
- Plant 1-inch to 1-1/2-inch Deep, 20-inch Row Spacing & 4-inch Plant Spacing
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An early green bush type for gardeners who can’t wait for delicious taste. Abundant stringless pods are best when picked at 5 to 6 inches long. Disease tolerant. A 28 gram packet plants about 11 row feet; a 56.7 gram packet plants about 22. These take about 55 days from sowing to harvesting.
‘Delinel’: A French Filet green bush bean, ‘Delinel’ baby snaps add a gourmet touch to the garden. Pods grow to 6 inches long and are stringless and extremely tender--great for quick steaming or stir-fry. Expect high yields and disease tolerance as well. A 20 gram packet plants about 11 row feet; a 56.7 gram packet about 22 feet. These take about 56 days to mature after seeds are sown.
This bush bean is prolific; pods are tender, long, straight and stringless. Best to pick at 5 to 6 inches long. Disease tolerant. A 28 gram packet plants about 13 row feet; a 56.7 gram packet about 25 feet. Derby beans take about 53 days to mature after seeds are sown.
- All-America Selections Winner
- Guaranteed To Grow
- 53 Days to Harvest
- Plant 1-inch to 1-1/2-inch Deep, 20-inch Row Spacing & 4-inch Plant Spacing
‘Gator Green 15’: A fine bush bean choice where summers are humid. High yields of flavorful, slim pods to make the gardener proud. Disease tolerant. A 28 gram packet plants about 11 row feet; a 56.7 gram packet about 22 feet. Harvest these beans about 53 days after sowing the seeds.
‘Golden Sands’: Some say wax beans are tastier than green. Try these bush wax beans and see for yourself. Slender, golden-yellow, crisp pods are best when picked 5 to 6 inches long. They’re easy to see and pick, and disease-resistant too. A 28 gram packet plants about 15 row feet. Ready to harvest in about 57 days after seeds are sown.
‘Kentucky Blue’: This bean is an All-America Selections Winner. This early pole bean is a cross between Blue Lake and Kentucky Wonder, and some consider it combines the best of both. Tasty snap beans are tender, disease tolerant. Plants need support but bear a long time. A 28 gram packet plants about 30 row feet; a 56.7 gram packet about 60 feet. Harvest these beans about 60 days after planting seeds. .
‘Nugget’: A bush type wax bean that produces crisp, tasty golden pods 5 to 6 inches long. ‘Nugget’ is disease-resistant and cherished by some as the mildest, tastiest bean around. A great addition to a 3-bean salad, too. A 56.7 gram packet plants about 30 row feet. Harvest these beans about 56 days after sowing seeds.
‘Tendergreen: Improved’ An old favorite disease-tolerant green bush type that produces reliably for a long picking season. Pods are tender and smooth. A 28 gram packet plants about 12 row feet; a 56.7 gram packet plants about 24 feet. Expect to pick these about 52 days after sowing the seed.
- 52 Days to Harvest
- Plant 1-inch to 1-1/2-inch Deep, 20-inch Row Spacing & 4-inch Plant Spacing
‘White Half Runner’: A green semi-bush variety, with distinctive, sweet, rich flavor! The 4-inch-long pods do have strings, though, which takes only an extra minute or so to prepare. Eat them as shell beans, too. Yum. Plants need no support. A 28 gram packet plants about 20 row feet; a 56.7 gram packet plants about 40 feet. Ready to harvest about 60 days after seeds are sown.
‘Yard Long’ Asparagus Bean: A tasty Oriental specialty snap bean also known (in Chinese) as Dow Guak. Long, slender pods can reach several feet in length but are typically 12 inches. Delicious in stir-fry. A 6 gram packet plants about 10 row feet. These beans are ready to harvest about 67 days after sowing seed.
- 67 Days to Harvest
- Plant 1-inch Deep, 30-inch Row Spacing & 6-inch Plant Spacing
Pole-Type Snap Bean
