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Growing Contender Bush Beans in the Vegetable Garden
Begin by selecting a sunny location, as beans love full sun and need around 6-8 hours of sunlight each day. The soil should be at least 60 F, well-draining, and have a slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.0 to 7.0). Beans prefer loose, fertile soil, so it’s a good idea to amend the soil with compost or well-rotted manure before planting. Direct sow the seeds outside once the soil is warm enough.
Water regularly, aiming for about 1 inch per week. It is best to water early in the morning or with a drip hose to avoid water on the leaves too often. Beans are light feeders, meaning they don’t require fertilizer unless soils are particularly poor. During the growing season, you can give them a light side-dressing of compost or a low-nitrogen fertilizer if the plants look pale or malnourished, but too much nitrogen can result in lush leaves with fewer beans.
Harvesting Contender Bush Beans
Contender is primarily a snap bean, meaning it’s grown for its tender pods, which are harvested while young and immature before the seeds swell too much. You can expect to start harvesting around 50-55 days after planting. The beans are ready to harvest when the pods are 4-6 inches long, firm, and smooth. At this stage, they will still be stringless and tender. To harvest, simply pinch or snip the pods off the plant, avoiding pulling or tugging at it, as this could damage or uproot it. You should harvest beans every couple of days to encourage more production. They will develop a string and become tough if left to mature too far.
About Contender Bush Bean Garden Seeds
Bred specifically for early maturity and disease resistance, Contender was created to be a versatile, adaptable bean that could handle various growing conditions.
Contender Bush Beans are mainly grown for fresh eating as snap beans, but they can also be canned or frozen for later use. When harvested at the right time, they have a mild, slightly sweet flavor and a tender, juicy texture.
Contender is one of our top-selling beans year after year. Contender beans are perfect for short, cool seasons where other beans may not perform well. This bean is mildew tolerant and still does well in hot weather.
Beans need light, but even watering. Because the leaves can become diseased if wet, water as close to the root as possible. If you do find that a leaf has become diseased, remove it from the plant immediately, as the disease can spread.
Tips From Our Gardeners
"Contender beans are perfect for steaming, sautéing, or blanching, and they can be added to various dishes from salads to stir-fries. They’re a great choice for preserving through canning or freezing, as they retain their flavor and texture well."
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- Lara Wadsworth, True Leaf Market Writer
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Other Resources
Contender Bush Bean Seeds Per Package:
- 30 g - Wholesale - Approximately 60 Seeds
- 4 oz - Wholesale - Approximately 228 Seeds
- 1 lb - Bulk Seeds - Approximately 912 Seeds
- 5 lb - Bulk Seeds - Approximately 4,560 Seeds
- 25 lb - Bulk Seeds - Approximately 22,800 Seeds
Non-GMO Contender Bush Bean seeds are available for Fast Free Shipping on qualifying orders.
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ATTRIBUTES
Basic Info
Latin Name: |
Phaseolus vulgaris
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Bean Sub-Type: |
Not Applicable. |
Contender Bush Bean Color: |
Green |
Contender Bush Bean Flavor: |
Mild yet classic flavor. |
Growing Info
Hardiness Zone: |
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 Annual Crop: Not Intended to Overwinter |
Days to Maturity: |
50-65 |
Days to Germination: |
5-10 |
Seeding Depth: |
1 inch |
Plant Spacing: |
4-6 inches |
Row Spacing: |
18-24 inches |
Plant Height: |
12-24 inches |
Growth Habit: |
Upright |
Soil Preference: |
Beans prefer well-draining, nutrient-rich, loamy soil with a pH of 6.0-6.8. As light feeders and nitrogen-fixing legumes, beans do not require nitrogen-heavy fertilizers. |
Temperature Preference: |
Warmer (70-85 F). |
Light Preference: |
Full Sun |
Other
Direct Sow: |
Yes, direct sow when soil temperatures are reliably above 60 F. Planting with an inoculant may increase yields, but is certainly not required for a successful grow. |
Start Indoors: |
Not Recommended. Beans grow best without any root disturbance. We recommend direct sowing instead of transplanting. |
Bean Pollination: |
Beans are self-pollinating as they contain both the male and female parts within their flowers, unlike other fruit and vegetable plants. While they are self-pollinating, having a variety of pollinators and flowers around will improve yields by ensuring the greatest chances for pollinating events to occur. |
Snap or Shell Bean: |
Snap - Snap beans have a fleshy edible pod. Snap beans are also commonly referred to as string beans or green beans (though not all snap beans are green). They are called snap beans because they make a snapping sound when you break them in half. |
Pole or Bush Bean: |
Bush - Bush beans grow on low-growing, compact, upright, bushy plants that typically do not need a trellis, pole, or other support. Bush beans are usually favorable to container growing. |
Plant Width: |
10-12 inches |
Growth Speed: |
Early - Ready for harvest around 45-65 days. |
Deer Resistant: |
No |
Germination Temperature: |
70-90 F |
Pests and Diseases: |
resistant to greasy pod (halo blight), mildew, rust, and Mosaic Virus. Beans are susceptible to beetles, aphids, spider mites, and cutworms. Look for signs of chewing, curling leaves, eggs on the undersides of leaves, and leaf discoloration. Keeping your bean plants clean from dust build-up and surrounded by a variety of plants to help deter and prevent pest damage. Beans are also susceptible to powdery mildew, bean blight, rust, and root rot. Maintain a regular watering schedule that avoids overly saturated soil. The roots need adequate time to air out between watering. This will also help prevent common fungal and bacterial diseases from developing. Good air circulation and applying water to the ground rather than the leaves will help maintain healthy bean plant growth. |
Garden Size: |
Greenhouse, Garden Plot, Raised Bed, Container |
Bean Use: |
Fresh, canning, freezing, stir fry, salad, casserole. |
Climate Tolerance: |
Heat |