Provider
Phaseolus vulgaris
Provider can be planted earlier than other beans because it tolerates cool soils. Compact plants are easy to grow and adaptable to diverse soil and climate conditions. Produces 5 1/2" fleshy, round pod green beans. Purple seeds. Bush bean.
Harvest
50d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
2–11
USDA hardiness
Difficulty
Easy
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Provider in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 pea →Zone Map
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Provider · Zones 2–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | — | — | May – June | June – October |
| Zone 4 | — | — | April – June | June – October |
| Zone 5 | — | — | April – May | June – November |
| Zone 6 | — | — | April – May | May – November |
| Zone 7 | — | — | March – May | May – November |
| Zone 8 | — | — | March – April | April – December |
| Zone 9 | — | — | February – March | March – December |
| Zone 10 | — | — | January – March | March – December |
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 Provider peas maintain peak quality for 3-5 days when stored unwashed in perforated plastic bags in the refrigerator at 32-35°F. For best flavor, shell and use within 24 hours of harvest, as sugars rapidly convert to starch.
For freezing, blanch shelled peas in boiling water for 90 seconds, then immediately transfer to ice water. Drain thoroughly and freeze in single layers before transferring to freezer bags. Properly frozen Provider peas maintain quality for 8-12 months.
Provider's concentrated harvest makes it excellent for pressure canning. Use only tested recipes from the USDA or Ball canning guides, as peas are low-acid vegetables requiring pressure canning for safety. The sweet flavor also makes Provider suitable for dehydrating—blanch briefly, then dry at 125°F until wrinkled and hard.
History & Origin
Origin: Tropical America
Advantages
- +Fast-growing
Considerations
- -Toxic (Seeds): Medium severity
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Carrots
Peas improve soil nitrogen for carrots, while carrots help break up soil for pea roots
Radishes
Help break up compacted soil and can be harvested before peas need the space
Lettuce
Benefits from nitrogen fixed by peas and provides ground cover to retain soil moisture
Spinach
Thrives in nitrogen-rich soil created by peas and has similar growing conditions
Cucumbers
Benefit from nitrogen fixed by peas and can use pea trellises after harvest
Marigolds
Repel aphids and other pests that commonly attack pea plants
Mint
Deters rodents and ants that may damage pea seeds and pods
Chives
Repel aphids and improve overall garden health through pest deterrence
Keep Apart
Garlic
Inhibits pea growth through allelopathic compounds released from roots
Onions
Can stunt pea growth and development due to sulfur compounds in soil
Gladiolus
Competes aggressively for nutrients and can inhibit pea pod development
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #170419)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
One or more races of Bean Mosaic Virus (High); Powdery Mildew (High)
Common Pests
Aphids, pea weevils, cutworms, slugs
Diseases
Powdery mildew, root rot, pea enation mosaic virus, downy mildew