Topcrop Bush Bean
Phaseolus vulgaris 'Topcrop'
A classic All-America Selections winner from 1950 that remains one of the most reliable bush beans for home gardeners. This prolific variety produces straight, stringless pods with excellent flavor and texture. Known for its concentrated harvest period and exceptional disease resistance, making it perfect for both fresh eating and preserving.
Harvest
50-55d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
2–11
USDA hardiness
Difficulty
Easy
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Topcrop Bush Bean in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 bean →Zone Map
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Topcrop 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 Topcrop beans stay crisp for 4-5 days when stored unwashed in perforated plastic bags in your refrigerator's crisper drawer. Don't wash until ready to use, as excess moisture promotes decay.
For freezing, blanch whole pods in boiling water for 3 minutes, then immediately plunge into ice water. Drain thoroughly and pack in freezer bags—they'll maintain quality for 8-10 months. Topcrop's firm texture makes it excellent for canning using a pressure canner following USDA guidelines.
This variety also excels at preservation through pickling—the straight, uniform pods fit perfectly in canning jars for dilly beans. You can also let some pods mature fully on the plant to harvest the dried beans inside for winter storage, though this stops fresh pod production on those plants.
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
Basil
Deters aphids, spider mites, and thrips that commonly attack beans
Carrots
Loosen soil for bean roots and beans fix nitrogen that carrots can utilize
Corn
Provides natural support structure and beans fix nitrogen for corn
Summer Squash
Ground cover reduces weeds and retains soil moisture for beans
Nasturtium
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles while attracting pollinators
Radish
Quick-growing companion that breaks up soil and deters bean beetles
Lettuce
Shallow roots don't compete and benefits from nitrogen fixed by beans
Keep Apart
Onions
Can stunt bean growth and development through root competition and chemical interactions
Sunflower
Allelopathic compounds inhibit bean germination and growth
Fennel
Produces allelopathic chemicals that inhibit bean growth and development
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 mosaic virus and bacterial diseases
Common Pests
Bean beetles, aphids, spider mites, cutworms
Diseases
Bean mosaic virus, bacterial blight, white mold, rust