• Bush contender is a reliable choice for home gardeners. Bush contender est un choix fiable pour les jardiniers amateurs.
  • Offers a delightful culinary experience and a dish. Offre une délicieuse expérience culinaire et un plat
  • Measure precisely for optimal growth in Canadian gardens mesures précises pour une croissance optimale dans les jardins canadiens
  • Bush contender is free from genetically modified organism Bush contender est exempt d’organismes génétiquement modifiés
  • Experience the thrill of a fast-growing wonder. Vivez le frisson d’une merveille en pleine croissance.
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JNB Seed

Contender Bean Seeds

Contender Bean Seeds

$3.99 CAD
$3.99 CAD
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Contender, a beloved heirloom bean for over six decades, remains a versatile, adaptable, and bountiful addition to any garden. Its robust, succulent pods offer delightful freshness whether eaten straight from the vine, preserved by canning, or stored in the freezer. They serve as excellent snap beans for immediate consumption or add a flavorful punch to various culinary creations: tossed in salads, stir-fried with protein or tofu over rice, or baked with savory herbs and cheese as a delightful side dish. Contender Green Bush Beans continue to be a popular choice for their adaptability and productivity. The plump, tender pods provide a satisfying taste whether enjoyed fresh, preserved, or frozen. This early-maturing variety proves reliable and thrives in cooler, short-season climates. Pods typically reach a length of 15 centimeters in just 50 days, boasting a delicious, stringless texture.

First introduced to gardeners in 1949, Contender green bush bean seeds originate from a strain known for high yields and disease resistance. The common bean traces its roots back to South America, with some historians dating its cultivation as far back as the Pre-Incan civilization in Peru. Upon encountering the New World, Columbus discovered green beans growing alongside the maize cultivated by the indigenous people. European explorers, including Columbus, brought this newfound vegetable back to their homelands, where it soon spread across Europe and beyond. Contender, with its bushy growth habit, produces abundant crops of flavorful green pods. Its early maturation makes it an excellent choice for regions with short growing seasons, thriving in both cooler and warmer climates.

Abundant Harvests - Contender Bush Bean reliably delivers hefty yields of delectable green pods. It adapts well to varying temperature conditions, ensuring a quick turnaround for gardeners seeking fresh green bean flavor, even in regions with shorter growing seasons.

Delightful Flavor - Contender stands out for its tender texture and delicious taste. While the beans can grow up to 20 centimeters in length, they are best enjoyed when picked at a more tender 12-15 centimeters. Contender beans are perfect for canning, pickling, and freezing without compromising their quality.

How To Grow

Sowing: Directly sow Contender green bush bean seeds outside at least 1 week after the last frost, as beans are sensitive to cold temperatures. Choose rich, well-drained soil with full sun exposure. If you're new to growing beans, consider treating the seeds with a powder inoculant to kickstart nitrogen fixation. Plant the seeds 2.5 cm deep and space them 7.6 cm apart, in rows 60-90 cm apart, and press down the soil above them for good soil contact. These seeds are prone to rotting in wet soil, so avoid overwatering. Expect germination within 7-12 days after planting. For beneficial companion planting, consider placing bush beans near carrots, cucumbers, or corn, but avoid planting them near onions.

Growing: After germination, maintain soil moisture; Contender bush beans have shallow roots and require watering at least once a week in dry weather. Applying mulch around the plants helps retain moisture and suppress weed growth.

Harvesting

Harvesting: Anticipate your initial bean harvest approximately ten weeks following germination. Regular harvesting enhances productivity. For optimal flavor and tenderness, pick the beans when they reach a thickness no greater than that of a pencil, or when they measure between 10-20 centimeters in length. Aim to serve or preserve the beans on the same day as harvesting to retain their freshness and flavor.

Seed Saving

Seed Saving: Towards the conclusion of the growing season, permit the beans to fully dry on the vine; you'll notice the pods turning light brown, and the seeds will rattle inside. Once dry, remove the seeds from the pods. After the Contender green bush bean seeds have thoroughly dried, store them in a cool, dry area for up to a year. To preserve Contender beans, leave the bean pods on the plants until the beans rattle inside. Then, separate the beans from the pods and allow them to dry for approximately 2 weeks before storing them in a cool, dry location.

Extra Facts

Planting Methods: Direct Sow
Blooming Season: Late Summer, Early Fall
Planting Season: Spring, Early Summer
Latin Name/USDA Zones: Phaseolus vulgaris / USDA Zones: 3-12
Sunlight Required/Height: Full Sun / Height: Approximately 50.8 centimeters
Shelf Life After Test Date: Up to 2-3 years
Seed Type: Open-Pollinated, Heirloom
Soil Type: Loam Soil, Clay Soil, or Sandy Soil

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