CLIMBING BEAN 'Snake Black Seed' - 10 Heirloom Seeds

(Vigna unguiculata var. sesquipedalis)


Snake bean (Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis) is a leguminous plant cultivated for its edible green pods containing immature seeds, such as green beans. It is also known as long bean, cowpea, Chinese long bean, bodi/bora, asparagus bean or pea.

The pods, which take shape 60 days (2.0 months) after sowing, hang in groups of two or more. They are used as a vegetable when they are picked before they reach full maturity; however, the ripe pods that are ignored can be used like dried beans. When harvesting, it is important not to pick off the buds that are above the seeds, because later the plant will produce more seeds on the same stem. The plant takes longer to reach maturity than bush beans, but once it starts producing the pods develop quickly and daily checking and harvesting is often a must.

This plant is a tall vine with long stringless pods, eat fresh or ripe whole pods, the smaller the seeds inside the better the taste, usually picked about 30cm., a variety of climates and good in greenhouses, resistant to pea fly. It was grown by early Chinese settlers. Spring sowing, summer. 70-90 days until maturity