Yardlong bean
Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis
Pencil-thin pods a foot and a half long that love the heat ordinary beans hate; pick them young and often.
Hardiness: zones 5 to 12
Light: full sun
Size: about 10 ft tall, 1 ft wide
Harvest: July to September
From: S. China and Southeast Asia
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: food, fixing nitrogen in the soil.
Native to: South & Southeast Asian tropics, East Asia. Hardy in zones 5 to 12.
The story
The yardlong bean is a climbing form of the African cowpea, selected in southern China and Southeast Asia for its long, tender pods. It is stir-fried in Sichuan, pounded into Thai salads and curried in Kerala.
Planting
Full sun and warm soil; sow well after the last frost. Give it a tall trellis.
Growing
It thrives in heat and humidity. Water steadily once pods set.
Harvest and use
Pick pods at pencil thickness, before the seeds bulge, every day or two. Cut into lengths and cook quickly.
What to watch for
Aphids, often farmed by ants. It stalls in cool weather.
See if Yardlong bean fits your yard
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More annual vegetables, herbs and grains
- Winged bean
- Roselle (hibiscus tea)
- Mustard
- Garden egg (African eggplant)
- Egusi melon
- Lima bean (butter bean)
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home