Description
Botanical Name: Phaseolus vulgaris
Days to Maturity: 66 days
Family: Fabaceae
Native: Mexico and South America
Hardiness: Frost-sensitive annual
Plant Dimensions: 5’–8′ long vines
Variety Information: 5″–7″ long, ½” wide silvery-green pods; stringless when young, white seeds. ‘Blue Lake FM-1K’ is common bean mosaic virus resistant.
Type: Snap bean
Harvesting: Snap beans are ready to pick when the pod “snaps” or breaks in half cleanly. This is when seeds have just begun to form and the pods are several inches long (depending on the variety). Hold stem with one hand and the pod with the other hand to avoid pulling off branches, which will continue to produce. Harvesting early and often will stimulate flower production for more beans. At season’s end, plants are great compost material if they are disease-free.
