Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Contender Bush Bean in USDA Zone 7
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Contender Bush Bean · 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 | — | — | April – September | May – November |
| Zone 9 | — | — | March – October | May – December |
| Zone 10 | — | — | February – October | April – December |
Complete Growing Guide
You'll want to prepare your planting site by working compost or aged manure into the soil to a depth of 6-8 inches. Contender bush beans thrive in loose, well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0-7.0. Avoid nitrogen-heavy fertilizers before planting, as beans fix their own nitrogen and excess will promote leafy growth at the expense of pod production.
Wait until soil temperatures consistently reach 60°F before direct sowing—typically 2-3 weeks after your last frost date. In zones 7-9, you can often get away with earlier plantings due to Contender's cold tolerance. Plant seeds 1-2 inches deep and 4-6 inches apart in rows spaced 18-24 inches apart. For container growing, choose pots at least 8 inches deep and 12 inches wide.
Unlike pole beans, Contender requires no staking or trellising. The compact 18-inch plants are self-supporting, making them ideal for small spaces. Water deeply once or twice weekly rather than daily light watering—beans prefer consistent moisture but hate wet feet. Mulch around plants once they're 4 inches tall to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Fertize lightly with a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer when plants begin flowering, but avoid over-fertilizing. The biggest mistake gardeners make is planting too early in cold soil, which leads to poor germination and weak plants. Another common error is overhead watering, which promotes fungal diseases—always water at soil level.
For continuous harvests, succession plant every 2-3 weeks through midsummer. In hot climates (zones 9-10), skip midsummer plantings and resume in late August for fall harvests. Contender's heat tolerance makes it one of the few bush beans that performs well in southern summers, though yields may be slightly reduced during extreme heat waves.
Harvesting
Begin harvesting Contender beans when pods are 4-6 inches long and pencil-thick, typically 50-55 days from planting. The pods should be bright green, smooth, and snap crisply when bent—avoid any that feel spongy or show visible seed bulges. Harvest in the morning after dew dries but before the heat of the day for peak crispness and sweetness.
Use the snap test: bend the pod in half—it should break cleanly with an audible snap. If it bends without breaking, wait a few more days. Pick pods by grasping them near the stem and pulling with a gentle twisting motion, or use scissors to avoid damaging the plant. Contender's advantage is that pods remain tender even when slightly oversized, giving you a longer harvest window than many varieties.
Harvest every 2-3 days to keep plants producing. Regular picking signals the plant to continue flowering and setting new pods. A single planting typically produces for 3-4 weeks with proper harvesting.
Storage & Preservation
Fresh Contender beans store best unwashed in perforated plastic bags in the refrigerator, maintaining quality for 5-7 days. Avoid storing at room temperature, as they quickly lose sweetness and become tough. For longer storage, blanch whole pods in boiling water for 3 minutes, then plunge into ice water before freezing—they'll maintain quality for 8-10 months.
For canning, use only fresh, tender pods and process in a pressure canner following USDA guidelines—beans are low-acid vegetables requiring pressure canning for safety. Contender's meaty texture makes it excellent for canning, maintaining good firmness after processing. You can also ferment young pods as dilly beans, where their crisp texture and mild flavor absorb seasonings beautifully. Avoid air-drying Contender beans as they're bred for fresh eating rather than shell bean production.
History & Origin
Contender bush bean was developed by the University of Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station and released in 1949. Dr. J.B. Edmond led the breeding program that created this variety specifically to address the need for a reliable bean that could withstand both temperature extremes and common bean diseases.
The variety was bred from crosses between several parent lines, with particular focus on incorporating mosaic virus resistance—a major problem for bean growers in the mid-20th century. Its development coincided with the post-World War II boom in home gardening, when victory garden enthusiasm transitioned into suburban vegetable gardening.
Contender earned its name through extensive field trials across multiple states and climate zones, where it consistently outperformed existing varieties in both yield and disease resistance. The Arkansas breeding program's success with Contender helped establish the university as a leader in vegetable breeding research. Today, it remains one of the most widely grown bush beans in North America, particularly valued by gardeners in challenging climates where other varieties struggle.
Advantages
- +Exceptional temperature tolerance, producing well in both cool springs and hot summers when other beans fail
- +Maintains pod tenderness even when slightly oversize, providing a forgiving harvest window
- +Strong mosaic virus resistance prevents the stunting and mottled leaves common in other varieties
- +Compact 18-inch height requires no staking while still producing abundant harvests
- +Pods remain stringless throughout harvest period, eliminating tedious preparation
- +Reliable germination even in less-than-ideal soil conditions
- +Extended harvest period of 3-4 weeks from single planting
Considerations
- -Susceptible to bacterial blight in humid conditions with poor air circulation
- -Pods can become fibrous quickly if harvest is delayed during hot weather
- -Limited variety in pod color—only available in standard green
- -Not suitable for dry shell bean production due to breeding focus on fresh eating
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Marigold
Repels bean beetles, aphids, and nematodes while attracting beneficial insects
Carrots
Improve soil structure and don't compete for nutrients, beans provide nitrogen for carrots
Corn
Provides natural support structure and benefits from nitrogen fixed by bean roots
Summer Squash
Large leaves provide ground cover and moisture retention, part of Three Sisters planting
Cucumber
Benefits from nitrogen provided by beans, similar water requirements
Radishes
Quick-growing crop that breaks up soil and deters bean beetles
Nasturtiums
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, attracts beneficial predatory insects
Rosemary
Repels bean beetles and carrot flies with strong aromatic oils
Keep Apart
Onions
Inhibits bean growth and nitrogen fixation through allelopathic compounds
Garlic
Stunts bean growth and interferes with beneficial root bacteria
Sunflowers
Allelopathic effects inhibit bean germination and growth
Fennel
Produces allelopathic compounds that inhibit growth of beans and most vegetables
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good resistance to bean mosaic virus and powdery mildew
Common Pests
Bean beetles, aphids, spider mites, cutworms
Diseases
Bacterial blight, anthracnose, rust, white mold