While I recently shared some seed ideas for shell and dried beans, I updated the choices for snap beans. I think the best selections are with Botanical Interests, Renee’s Garden and Rare Seeds.
Seed Ideas:
The following are common “green” beans:
- Blue Lake (pole or bush) – this is one of classic green bean varieties.
- Kentucky Wonder (pole) – known for tender pods
- Seychelles (pole) – this variety is supposed to be resistant to common bean mosaic virus.
- Scarlet Emporer (pole) – this variety is know for red flowers and can be picked young as snap beans or when mature as a dried bean – love choices!
The following snap beans have colorful pods:
- Trionfo Violetto (pole) – this one has purple pods and flowers.
- Royal Burgundy (bush)
- Red Swan (bush) – this variety has pink flowers with deep pink/red pods.
- Golden Butterwax (bush)
- Beurre de Rocquencourt (bush) – another yellow wax bean variety.
The following are French filet snap beans:
- Calima (bush) – this filet bean pods reaches up to 8 inches long.
- French Filet (bush) – the bean pods grow very thin and long.
- Maxibel (bush) – this variety also reaches up to 8 inches long.
Seeds from Italy offers the best Italian snap beans which are wider than most snap beans:
- Roma Improved (bush)
- Super Marconi (pole)
- Smeraldo (pole)
The following are Asian or yard long bean varieties:
- Orient Wonder (pole)
- Yard Long Noodle King (pole)
- Taiwan Yard-Long (pole) – this pods can reach up to 3 feet long – Wow!
- Chinese Green Noodle (pole)
- Chinese Red Noodle (pole) – these pods reach up to 18 inches long.
- Thai Soldier (bush) – the pods are green streaked with a reddish brown color.
As you know, I prefer to grow pole beans.
