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Burpee's Stringless Green Pod · Zones 3–10
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | — | — | May – July | July – September |
| Zone 4 | — | — | May – July | July – September |
| Zone 5 | — | — | May – August | June – September |
| Zone 6 | — | — | May – August | June – October |
| Zone 7 | — | — | April – August | June – October |
| Zone 8 | — | — | March – September | May – November |
| Zone 9 | — | — | March – October | April – November |
| Zone 10 | — | — | February – October | April – December |
Complete Growing Guide
Start preparing your planting site in early spring by choosing a location that receives full sun for 6-8 hours daily. Burpee's Stringless Green Pod beans perform best in well-drained soil with a pH between 6.0-7.0. Work compost into heavy clay soils to improve drainage, as waterlogged conditions will cause seeds to rot before germinating.
Wait to direct sow until soil temperature reaches at least 60°F and you're 1-2 weeks past your last frost date. Cold, wet soil is the enemy of bean seeds. Plant seeds 1.5-2 inches deep and 4-6 inches apart in rows spaced 18-24 inches apart. This variety doesn't require indoor starting – direct sowing actually produces stronger, more productive plants since beans don't transplant well.
Avoid over-fertilizing, especially with nitrogen-rich fertilizers. Beans fix their own nitrogen through root nodules, and excess nitrogen promotes leafy growth at the expense of pod production. A light application of balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) at planting time is sufficient. Side-dress with compost mid-season if plants appear pale.
Being a bush variety, these beans don't require staking, but providing low support or planting near taller crops can help prevent pods from touching the ground during heavy rains. Water consistently but avoid overhead watering once plants are established, as wet foliage encourages bacterial diseases.
The biggest mistake gardeners make is harvesting too late. Start checking pods daily once they reach 4-5 inches long. This variety maintains its stringless quality longer than many, but pods become tough and fibrous if left too long on the plant. For maximum yield, harvest every 2-3 days during peak season to encourage continued production.
In hot climates (zones 8-10), consider succession planting every 2-3 weeks through early summer, then resume planting in late summer for fall harvest. Northern gardeners (zones 3-6) can succession plant through mid-July for continuous harvest until first frost.
Harvesting
Begin harvesting Burpee's Stringless Green Pod beans when pods reach 5-6 inches long and are firm to the touch but still snap crisply when bent. The pods should be bright green with just the faintest outline of developing seeds inside – you want them plump but not bulging. Harvest in the early morning when pods are crisp and full of moisture for the best texture and flavor.
Test readiness by gently bending a pod – it should snap cleanly with an audible crack. If it bends without breaking, wait another day or two. Use the 'fingernail test' by pressing your nail into the pod; it should pierce easily without resistance. Avoid the temptation to let pods get too large, as this variety can go from perfect to tough within just a few days during hot weather.
Harvest by grasping the pod firmly and pulling with a quick, gentle motion, or use scissors to cut the stem to avoid damaging the plant. Hold the plant stem steady with your other hand while picking. Regular harvesting every 2-3 days during peak season encourages continued production and can extend your harvest window by several weeks.
Storage & Preservation
Fresh Burpee's Stringless Green Pod beans store best in the refrigerator crisper drawer for up to one week. Don't wash them until ready to use, as excess moisture promotes decay. For longer storage, these beans excel at freezing – blanch whole pods in boiling water for 3 minutes, then immediately plunge into ice water. Drain thoroughly and freeze in portion-sized bags for up to 8 months.
This variety is excellent for water-bath canning using tested recipes from the USDA guidelines. The meaty texture holds up well to the canning process, making them perfect for three-bean salads and side dishes. For pressure canning, process pint jars for 20 minutes at 11 pounds of pressure (adjust for altitude).
Let some pods mature fully on the plant if you want to save seeds for next year's crop. The pods will turn yellow-brown and rattle when shaken. Shell out the dried beans and store in airtight containers in a cool, dark place.
History & Origin
Burpee's Stringless Green Pod revolutionized home bean growing when W. Atlee Burpee introduced it in 1894. Before this variety, gardeners had to painstakingly remove tough, fibrous strings from both sides of green bean pods before cooking – a time-consuming chore that made fresh beans less appealing for daily meals.
Calvin Keeney, known as 'the father of the stringless bean,' developed this variety through careful selection and breeding. Working from his New York farm, Keeney spent years selecting plants that produced pods without the troublesome strings while maintaining excellent flavor and productivity. Burpee recognized the potential of Keeney's work and introduced the variety through their seed catalog, marketing it as a breakthrough that would 'save housewives hours of tedious kitchen preparation.'
The variety quickly became a garden staple across America and remains virtually unchanged after 130 years – a testament to Keeney's breeding skills. This bean helped establish the foundation for all modern stringless varieties and earned its place as one of the most important heirloom vegetables in American gardening history. Today, it's maintained by seed savers who appreciate its reliability, flavor, and historical significance.
Advantages
- +Truly stringless pods remain tender even when slightly overmature, unlike many modern varieties
- +Exceptional productivity with concentrated harvest period perfect for preserving
- +Reliable germination and strong disease resistance developed through 130 years of adaptation
- +Outstanding flavor with rich, meaty texture that holds up to cooking and canning
- +Compact bush habit requires no staking or trellising support
- +Heat tolerance superior to many stringless varieties, continuing production in summer weather
- +Self-pollinating heirloom produces true-to-type seeds for saving
Considerations
- -Relatively short harvest window compared to pole varieties requiring succession planting
- -Pods can become tough quickly during hot weather if not harvested promptly
- -More susceptible to bacterial blight than some modern disease-resistant hybrids
- -Seeds are prone to rot in cold, wet soil conditions common in early spring
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Marigold
Repels Mexican bean beetles and aphids while attracting beneficial insects
Nasturtium
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, deters bean beetles
Carrot
Loosens soil for bean roots and doesn't compete for nutrients
Cucumber
Beans fix nitrogen that cucumbers can utilize, compatible root systems
Corn
Provides natural trellis support, beans fix nitrogen for corn
Summer Squash
Large leaves provide ground shade and moisture retention for bean roots
Rosemary
Repels Mexican bean beetles and carrot rust flies
Lettuce
Benefits from nitrogen fixed by beans, harvested before beans need full space
Keep Apart
Onion
Can inhibit bean growth and nitrogen fixation through root compounds
Fennel
Produces allelopathic compounds that stunt bean growth and development
Sunflower
Competes heavily for nutrients and water, may release growth-inhibiting chemicals
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good general disease tolerance typical of adapted heirlooms
Common Pests
Mexican bean beetle, aphids, cucumber beetles, spider mites
Diseases
Bacterial blight, bean mosaic virus, anthracnose, rust