DescriptionRattlesnake Pole Bean SeedsScientific Name: Phaseolus vulgaris Family: PeaType: Hardy AnnualNative Range: Lower 48 States, Pacific Basin, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin IslandsHardiness Zones: 5 and 13; beans are not hardy and will die with light frost;Soil Requirements: Warm and well-drained; slightly acidic pH [6.5 – 6.8];Light Preference: Full sunWater: ModerateDays until Germination: 8-16 daysSowing: Sow directly into ground 2″- 3″ deep once soil is warm and last frost is past—roughly two weeks.Plant Spacing: Pole beans need support of a trellis or fence. Plant rattlesnake pole bean seeds 2″ to 3″ deep, 5″ to 6″ apart, in rows 4′ apart within an inch or two of the trellis or pole. For a tepee method, plant 6 to 7 seeds around each pole. Plant Height: Climbing. (Usually between 6′-10′).Harvest: 50-60 days; beans can be picked young at 4″ to 6″ for eating or as fresh shelling beans once the beans have swelled in the pods; continually harvest to encourage future growth and production; Grows Well With: Carrots, cauliflower, beets, cucumbers, cabbage, small amounts of leek and celeriac, marigolds, corn, summer savory, radishesGrows Poorly With: Garlic, shallots, chives, gladiolus, kohlrabi, sunflower, beetsPotential Problems: Mexican bean beetles; bean weevils; lack of support for stalk;Uses & Cooking Suggestions: Rattlesnake pole beans can be eaten and cooked similarly to green beans, e.g. steamed, stir-fried, raw. They are done cooking when their shells lose their purple streaks.
