Lean Beans

LONG AND SKINNY AND DEFINITELY SERPENTINE, SNAKE BEANS HAVE A REPTILIAN HABIT OF CLIMBING ALL OVER THINGS

- Jennifer Stackhouse

True to their name, snake beans are long, thin and snakelike. These giants of the legume world are also known as yard long beans as they can grow to a metre or more in length.

Snake beans are native to parts of Asia (possibly originating in South China) so are much more tolerant of heat and humidity than beans normally grown in the backyard vegie patch such as French or runner beans. They are best grown in the tropics and subtropics as they are not frost tolerant.

These vines also crop over a long period and can grow right through summer and into autumn. Although the beans can reach up to 1.2m in length, they become tough as they get larger so it’s best to harvest when they’re around 30–50cm long. Snake beans are often seen in large bundles for sale at fresh food markets.

As well as the commonly seen green snake bean, there’s also a variety called ‘Red Dragon’, which has a long green pod and red seeds. The red seeds are slow to form so this variety stays tender even when quite long.

Other snake bean varieties may have black or brown seeds. ‘Red Noodle’ has red beans and there are also varieties with purple beans.