Oriental Yard Long Bean (Pole)

Oriental Yard Long is a highly productive pole bean, also known as the asparagus bean or Chinese long bean, famous for its extraordinary length. The slender, tender pods grow 18 to 36 inches long and mature in about 60 to 80 days. Crisp and flavorful, they are ideal for stir-fries, salads, and pickling on a vigorous warm-climate climber.

At a glance

• Variety: Oriental Yard Long bean (Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis)
• Type: Pole bean, heirloom, open-pollinated, non-GMO
• Pods: 18 to 36 inches long
• Days to maturity: About 60 to 80 days
• Sun: Full sun
• Use: Stir-fries, salads, pickling

Best for

• Stir-fries and Asian dishes
• Fresh salads and pickling
• Warm-climate, vertical growing
• High-yield, continuous harvests
• Novelty and conversation-piece pods

How to grow

Direct sow after the soil has warmed and frost has passed, planting about 1 inch deep at the base of a sturdy trellis or pole in full sun. The vigorous vines love heat. Harvest pods young and often to keep the plants producing.

Flavor profile

Crisp and mildly nutty with a denser, more savory texture than common green beans.

About MIgardener

MIgardener is a Michigan-based family company offering affordable, non-GMO heirloom seeds and gardening supplies, with a mission to make growing your own food simple and accessible.