Jade
Phaseolus vulgaris
Wikimedia Commons
Arguably the best-tasting bush bean we offer, Jade's 6-7", slender, deep green pods are exceptionally tender and delicious. High-yielding even under heat or cold stress, Jade has been a customer favorite since its debut in our 1992 catalog. Pale green seeds. Bush bean.
Harvest
53d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
2–11
USDA hardiness
Height
18-24 inches
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Jade in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 bean →Zone Map
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Jade · 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 |
| Zone 1 | — | — | July – August | September – August |
| Zone 2 | — | — | June – August | September – September |
| Zone 11 | — | — | January – March | April – May |
| Zone 12 | — | — | January – March | April – May |
| Zone 13 | — | — | January – March | April – May |
Succession Planting
Direct sow Jade every 14 days from around April 1 through late June in zone 7. Each sowing takes about 53 days to harvest, so a planting made by June 15 still comes in before August heat hammers pod set. Stop sowing once daytime highs are consistently above 90°F — beans will flower but fruit set drops off sharply, and you'll mostly be feeding the beetle population.
In Georgia you can often squeeze in a fall run starting around August 10–20, once temperatures start backing off. Germination in warm soil tends to come in closer to 7 days than 10, and the plants mature into cooler, drier September conditions that keep fungal pressure — particularly common rust (Uromyces appendiculatus) and powdery mildew — noticeably lower. That late planting is usually the cleanest one of the season.
Complete Growing Guide
Jade beans are best started by direct sowing seeds into the garden after all danger of frost has passed and soil temperatures have reached at least 60°F, ideally 70°F or warmer. Since Jade reaches harvest in just 53 days, you can sow seeds as soon as conditions allow in spring and repeat sowings every two to three weeks through mid-summer for continuous harvests until fall frost arrives. Indoor starting is unnecessary for this variety and may actually delay production compared to direct seeding, which Jade handles beautifully.
Space Jade seeds one inch deep and two inches apart in rows, thinning seedlings to four inches apart once they emerge. The soil should be loose, well-draining, and rich in organic matter; work compost into the planting area before sowing. Jade performs well even in moderate soil, but avoid planting in heavy clay or waterlogged spots, which can cause seed rot. As a bush bean, Jade requires no trellising, making it ideal for compact gardens and containers, though it does appreciate consistent air circulation to prevent fungal issues.
Water Jade consistently through the growing season, providing about one inch per week through rainfall or irrigation. The critical period is flowering through pod development; inconsistent watering during this stage causes blossom drop and misshapen pods. Drip irrigation or soaker hoses work better than overhead watering, which can promote mildew. Feeding is rarely necessary if your soil was amended with compost before planting. However, if growth appears slow or leaves yellow, a light side-dressing of balanced organic fertilizer or fish emulsion halfway through the season supports productivity.
Watch for spider mites and Mexican bean beetles on Jade, particularly during hot spells or drought stress. Despite Jade's heat tolerance, spider mites proliferate in hot, dry conditions; spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap if webbing appears on undersides of leaves. Mexican bean beetles are easier to control by hand-picking in early morning or removing yellow egg clusters from leaf undersides. Jade is also susceptible to powdery mildew, especially in humid areas, so spacing plants adequately and avoiding overhead watering prevents this common issue.
Succession planting is Jade's superpower. Rather than sowing all seeds at once, plant new rows every two weeks from late spring through midsummer to spread your harvest across the season and reduce the glut of overripe pods. This technique also staggers pest pressure and disease exposure.
Here's what gardeners often overlook: they harvest Jade too late. The pods are at their most tender and delicious when six to seven inches long and still bright green, before they start bulging noticeably with mature beans inside. Harvesting every two to three days encourages more flowering and extends productivity. Waiting for larger pods reduces yield and toughens the texture that makes Jade exceptional in the first place.
Harvesting
Jade reaches harvest at 53 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. Expect 6-7" at peak. As an annual, harvest continues until frost ends the season.
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
Storage & Preservation
Harvest Jade beans at 53 days when pods are tender and snap cleanly. Store fresh pods in a perforated plastic bag in the refrigerator at 40–45°F with 90–95% humidity for up to 10 days. For longer preservation, blanch whole or cut pods for 3 minutes, then plunge into ice water, drain thoroughly, and freeze in airtight containers for up to 12 months. Canning requires a pressure canner due to low acidity; follow USDA guidelines for safety. Drying works well for mature beans: allow pods to fully dry on the plant, shell, and store in airtight containers in a cool, dark place for several years. Jade beans retain their distinctive color best when frozen rather than canned, making freezing the preferred method if you want to showcase their appearance at table.
History & Origin
Jade is open-pollinated, meaning seed saved from healthy plants will produce true-to-type offspring. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.
Origin: Tropical America
Advantages
- +Exceptional flavor makes Jade a top choice for fresh eating and cooking
- +Slender 6-7 inch pods are tender with minimal strings or tough spots
- +High yields persist even during heat stress or cold weather conditions
- +Fast 53-day maturity allows multiple successive plantings in one season
Considerations
- -Bush growth habit requires more plants for equivalent yields versus pole beans
- -Tender pods are susceptible to damage from heavy rain or rough handling
- -Pale green seeds indicate potential susceptibility to common bean viruses
Companion Plants
Corn, beans, and squash together aren't just folklore — each one does something the others need. Jade fixes nitrogen through root bacteria that feeds the heavy-feeding corn; squash sprawls at 18–24 inches and shades the soil enough to suppress weeds and hold moisture through dry spells. Marigolds (Tagetes spp.) along the bed edges earn their spot: their root secretions suppress soil nematodes, and they're disruptive enough to aphid foraging that the effect is real, not just gardener optimism. Summer savory planted in between rows has a long reputation for deterring bean beetles — here in zone 7 Georgia, Mexican bean beetles show up reliably by mid-May, so having that deterrent already in the ground matters.
Onions, garlic, and fennel all cause problems. Alliums stunt bean growth through root interaction — the exact mechanism is still debated, but the result is consistent enough to just avoid the combination. Fennel is worse: it releases allelopathic compounds from its roots that suppress germination and growth across most vegetables. Give it a dedicated bed at least 3–4 feet from anything you actually want to produce.
Plant Together
Marigold
Repels bean beetles, aphids, and nematodes while attracting beneficial insects
Basil
Repels aphids, spider mites, and thrips that commonly attack bean plants
Corn
Provides natural support structure for climbing beans in Three Sisters planting
Squash
Large leaves provide ground cover, retain moisture, and suppress weeds around bean plants
Carrots
Deep roots don't compete with beans and help break up soil for better root development
Nasturtium
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles while improving soil nitrogen
Radish
Quick-growing crop that loosens soil and can be harvested before beans need full space
Summer Savory
Repels bean weevils and may improve bean flavor when planted nearby
Keep Apart
Onions
Can inhibit bean growth and nitrogen fixation through root secretions
Fennel
Releases allelopathic compounds that stunt growth of beans and most garden plants
Garlic
Strong sulfur compounds can interfere with bean root development and nitrogen fixation
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #2346400)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Bacterial Brown Spot (Intermediate); Common Rust (Intermediate); Curly Top Beet Mosaic Virus (Intermediate); One or more races of Bean Mosaic Virus (High)
Common Pests
Spider mites, Mexican bean beetles, bean leaf beetles, aphids
Diseases
Bacterial brown spot, common rust, bean mosaic virus, powdery mildew in humid conditions
Troubleshooting Jade
What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.
Leaves have ragged chunks missing; yellow or orange egg clusters on leaf undersides, around weeks 5–7
Likely Causes
- Mexican bean beetle (Epilachna varivestis) — adults and larvae both feed on leaf tissue, skeletonizing leaves from the underside
- Bean leaf beetle (Cerotoma trifasciata) — chews irregular holes through the leaf blade
What to Do
- 1.Scout every other day once plants are 4 inches tall — the UGA Vegetable Garden Calendar flags both pests as top threats in May and June; early discovery makes early control possible
- 2.Hand-pick egg clusters (yellow, upright ovals on the leaf underside) and drop them in soapy water
- 3.If more than half your plants are showing damage, treat with spinosad or neem oil; a heavy infestation at that threshold will take the whole planting
Small, water-soaked spots on leaves and pods that turn brown with a yellow halo, appearing mid-season
Likely Causes
- Bacterial brown spot (Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae) — spreads by rain splash and overhead irrigation
- Working in the garden when foliage is wet, which moves bacteria from plant to plant
What to Do
- 1.Switch to drip or soaker-hose irrigation — keeping leaves dry cuts transmission significantly; 1 inch per week delivered at the soil line is plenty
- 2.Remove and trash (don't compost) affected leaves and pods as soon as you see them
- 3.Rotate beans out of this bed for at least 2 seasons; NC State Extension notes that legume rotation also rebuilds soil nitrogen through root-associated bacteria, so it's a two-for-one
Fine webbing on leaf undersides; leaves look stippled, bronzed, or dusty, especially during hot dry stretches
Likely Causes
- Two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) — populations explode when temps stay above 85°F and humidity drops
- Dusty, dry conditions along garden edges or near gravel paths
What to Do
- 1.Blast the undersides of leaves with a strong stream of water — does real damage to mite colonies and costs nothing
- 2.Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil, hitting the undersides; repeat every 5–7 days for at least 2 applications
- 3.Keep soil consistently moist (1–1.5 inches per week) and mulch with 2–3 inches of straw to moderate soil temperature and humidity around the plants
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Jade bean take to grow from seed to harvest?▼
Can you grow Jade beans in containers or pots?▼
What does Jade bean taste like?▼
Is Jade bean good for beginners?▼
When should I plant Jade beans?▼
What diseases does Jade bean resist?▼
Growing Guides from Wind River Greens
Where to Buy Seeds
Sources & References
External authority sources used in compiling this guide.
- BreederJohnny's Selected Seeds
- USDAUSDA FoodData Central
See the Methodology page for how this data is sourced, what's AI-assisted, and known limitations.