How to grow snake beans in a raised bed

Snake beans (yard-long beans) are the heat-loving Asian cousin of the green bean, producing extraordinary metre-long pods on vigorous climbing vines. They thrive in summer when ordinary beans struggle.

Quick facts

• Position: full sun, loves heat
• Spacing: 15–20 cm apart
• Tub depth: our 35 cm depth
• Time to harvest: 10–12 weeks
• Support: a tall, sturdy trellis

When to plant: Snake beans are frost-tender and love the heat — sow directly from late spring through summer. Our free planting calendar shows the right months for your postcode.

Growing it in a raised bed: Sow seed at the base of a tall trellis — the vigorous vines climb high. They love warmth and humidity, cropping through the hottest months.

Watering and feeding: Keep the mix evenly moist through flowering and podding; they're thirstier than most beans in the heat.

Common pests: keep an eye out for aphids, caterpillars and two-spotted mite. Most are easily managed — see our safe pest guide.

Common diseases: the main ones are rust and mosaic virus. Good airflow, morning watering and steady moisture prevent most.

Companion plants: Corn and cucumbers are good companions; keep beans away from onions. See our companion planting guide.

Harvest and storage: Pick the long pods young, while still slim and tender, before the seeds swell. Regular picking keeps the vine cropping for weeks.

More growing guides: beans, climbing beans and edamame.

Plan your patch: our free planting calendar shows what to plant now where you live. Ready to grow? Browse our raised garden beds or build your own with the garden bed builder.

Image: Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 us, via Wikimedia Commons.