Early Contender Bush Bean
Phaseolus vulgaris 'Early Contender'
A reliable, early-maturing green bean that's perfect for short seasons and beginning gardeners seeking guaranteed success. This hardy variety produces abundant, tender 6-inch pods even in challenging weather conditions, making it a dependable choice for consistent harvests throughout the growing season.
Harvest
49-55d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
2–11
USDA hardiness
Difficulty
Very Easy
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Early Contender Bush Bean in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 bean →Zone Map
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Early 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 Early Contender beans maintain peak quality for 5-7 days when stored in perforated plastic bags in your refrigerator's crisper drawer. Keep them unwashed until use and maintain humidity around 95% to prevent wilting.
For longer preservation, blanch whole pods in boiling water for 3 minutes, plunge into ice water, drain thoroughly, and freeze in airtight containers for up to 8 months. French-cut or snap into 1-2 inch pieces before blanching for faster cooking later.
Pressure can using a tested recipe—process pints for 20 minutes at 10 pounds pressure (adjust for altitude). These beans excel in mixed vegetable medleys and soup mixes. For immediate use, refrigerated beans stay crisp for several days and work excellently in stir-fries, steamed preparations, or fresh salads when blanched briefly and chilled.
History & Origin
Origin: Tropical America
Advantages
- +Fast-growing
Considerations
- -Toxic (Seeds): Medium severity
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Marigold
Repels Mexican bean beetles and aphids, attracts beneficial insects
Basil
Repels aphids, thrips, and spider mites while improving bean flavor
Carrots
Loosen soil for bean roots and don't compete for nitrogen
Corn
Provides natural trellis support and beans fix nitrogen for corn
Summer Squash
Large leaves provide living mulch and shade for bean roots
Nasturtium
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles
Lettuce
Benefits from nitrogen fixed by beans and provides ground cover
Rosemary
Repels Mexican bean beetles and carrot flies
Keep Apart
Onions
Can inhibit bean growth and nitrogen fixation
Sunflowers
Allelopathic chemicals can stunt bean growth
Fennel
Inhibits growth through allelopathic compounds
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #2346400)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Excellent resistance to common bean mosaic virus and powdery mildew
Common Pests
Mexican bean beetle, aphids, spider mites
Diseases
Bacterial blight, rust, anthracnose