Purple Top Bush Bean
Phaseolus vulgaris 'Purple Top'
A stunning heirloom variety that produces beautiful purple-streaked pods on compact bush plants, adding both color and flavor to the garden. The tender young pods are excellent fresh, while mature beans can be dried for winter storage, making this a true dual-purpose variety that's been treasured by gardeners for generations.
Harvest
55-60d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
2–11
USDA hardiness
Difficulty
Easy
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Purple Top Bush Bean in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 bean →Zone Map
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Purple Top 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 Purple Top Bean pods stay crisp for 5-7 days when stored unwashed in perforated plastic bags in the refrigerator crisper drawer. For optimal freshness, store at 40-45°F with high humidity.
For longer storage, blanch pods in boiling water for 3 minutes, shock in ice water, drain thoroughly, and freeze in airtight containers for up to 8 months. The purple coloration may fade slightly during freezing but flavor remains excellent.
To preserve as dried beans, allow pods to dry completely on the plant until they rattle, then shell and store the dried beans in airtight containers in a cool, dry place. Properly dried beans keep for 2-3 years and make excellent additions to soups and stews. You can also pressure can fresh pods using standard green bean canning procedures for shelf-stable storage.
History & Origin
Origin: Tropical America
Advantages
- +Fast-growing
Considerations
- -Toxic (Seeds): Medium severity
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Marigolds
Repel bean beetles, aphids, and nematodes while attracting beneficial insects
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, repel bean beetles
Carrots
Beans improve soil nitrogen for carrots, carrots don't compete for space
Corn
Provides natural support structure for climbing varieties and wind protection
Squash
Part of Three Sisters planting, large leaves suppress weeds and retain soil moisture
Radishes
Break up compacted soil, mature quickly before beans need full space
Lettuce
Benefits from nitrogen fixation, provides living mulch, different root depths
Summer Savory
Improves bean flavor and growth, repels bean beetles and aphids
Keep Apart
Onions
Can stunt bean growth and inhibit nitrogen fixation by beneficial bacteria
Sunflowers
Allelopathic compounds inhibit bean germination and growth
Fennel
Inhibits growth of most garden plants including beans through allelopathy
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #2346400)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Moderate disease resistance typical of heirlooms
Common Pests
Mexican bean beetle, aphids, thrips, seed corn maggot
Diseases
Bean common mosaic virus, bacterial blight, powdery mildew