Contender Bush Bean
Phaseolus vulgaris 'Contender'
A reliable and productive bush bean that lives up to its name as a top contender in home gardens. This variety excels in both hot and cool weather conditions, producing abundant harvests of tender, stringless pods that maintain their quality even when picked large. Developed for its exceptional adaptability and consistent performance, making it a favorite among both novice and experienced gardeners.
Harvest
50-55d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
2–11
USDA hardiness
Difficulty
Easy
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Contender Bush Bean in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 bean →Zone Map
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Contender Bush Bean · Zones 2–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | — | — | June – July | August – October |
| Zone 4 | — | — | June – July | August – October |
| Zone 5 | — | — | May – June | August – September |
| Zone 6 | — | — | May – June | July – September |
| Zone 7 | — | — | April – June | July – August |
| Zone 8 | — | — | April – May | June – August |
| Zone 9 | — | — | March – April | May – July |
| Zone 10 | — | — | February – April | May – June |
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day). Soil: High Organic Matter. Drainage: Good Drainage. Spacing: 6-feet-12 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: 'Rattlesnake'Pole Snap Bean, 'Rattlesnake'. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
The boat-shaped seed pods are bilaterally symmetrical and can be green, yellow, white, or purple at maturity. There is a wide variety of color and shape choices among cultivars.
Color: Gold/Yellow, Green, Purple/Lavender, White. Type: Legume. Length: > 3 inches. Width: < 1 inch.
Garden value: Edible, Good Dried
Harvest time: Fall, Summer
Bloom time: Spring, Summer
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
Origin: Tropical America
Advantages
- +Fast-growing
Considerations
- -Toxic (Seeds): Medium severity
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
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #2346400)
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