Bean, Yard-Long — Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis (L.) Verde1
Yard-long bean has such other common names as asparagus bean, Peru bean, and snake bean. It is closely related to Southern peas or cowpeas. As the names imply, the pods are quite long, often reaching 36 inches in length. These long immature pods are often used as snap beans.
DESCRIPTION
The annual climbing plant resembles the Southern pea, but is much more a trailing and climbing variety often reaching 9-12 feet in height. The plant is quite ornamental because of the large violet-blue flowers and the draping pods.
CULTURE
Yard-long bean is grown in Florida primarily in home gardens. When seeds are planted in the fall or late March in the Gainesville area, the plant produce pods quite well. The cultural requirements and problems are much like those for Southern peas. Aphids are especially attracted to the pods of this plant. Owing to the long trailing nature of the plant, a 6-foot trellis should be provided. Space the plants 8-12 inches in the row with 3-4 feet between rows.
USE
Pick the pods before the seeds mature. In this tender stage, they can be snapped and cooked in various ways. Some suggestions are: (a) stew with tomato sauce, (b) boil and drain, then season with lemon juice and oil, and (c) simmer in butter with oil and garlic.
Footnotes
This document is HS562, one of a series of the Horticultural Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date May 1994. Reviewed March 2009. Visit the EDIS Web Site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.
James M. Stephens, Professor, Horticultural Sciences Department, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville FL 32611.
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