Bean Snake Climbing - Green

The asparagus bean (Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis) is a legume known for its edible green pods, similar to green beans. Also referred to as yardlong bean, long-podded cowpea, Chinese long bean, bodi/bora, snake bean, or pea bean, this versatile vegetable is prized for its long, slender pods.

Pods start forming around 60 days (2 months) after planting and grow in clusters of two or more. They are typically harvested before full maturity for the best flavor, although mature pods can be dried and used as dry beans. Care should be taken not to pick the buds above the beans, as the plant will continue to produce more pods on the same stem. While the plants take longer to mature than bush beans, they produce rapidly once they start, necessitating daily harvesting.

This tall climbing plant produces stringless pods that can be eaten fresh or cooked. Smaller seeds inside the pods offer better taste, and they are usually picked when around 30 cm long. Asparagus beans thrive in a variety of climates, are suitable for greenhouses, and are resistant to bean-fly. Historically cultivated by early Chinese settlers, they should be sown in spring or summer, taking 70-90 days to reach maturity.