The remarkable yardlong bean — a vigorous climbing vine that hangs heavy with slender green pods up to three-quarters of a metre long. Tender, crisp and quick to cook, it is a high-yielding favourite of South & East Asian kitchens.
The Story
The snake bean — বরবটি (borboti) in Bengali, yardlong or Chinese long bean elsewhere — is one of the most rewarding beans you can grow in the warm season. Its slender, ropy green pods dangle in pairs and can stretch to an astonishing 40–75 cm.
Unlike the common green bean, it relishes heat and humidity, climbing vigorously and cropping with real generosity right through summer. The young pods are crisp, tender and mildly sweet, with a denser, meatier bite that holds up beautifully to high-heat cooking.
Cut into short lengths, it is a star of stir-fries, dry-fries, curries and borboti bhaji across Bangladesh, India, China and South-East Asia. Fast, prolific and full of character, it earns its place on any sunny trellis.
Why Gardeners Love It
Prolific & long-cropping
A heavy, continuous cropper — the more you pick, the more it produces. Just a few vines can keep a kitchen well supplied through the warm months.
Pods up to 75 cm
The dramatic, ropy pods can reach three-quarters of a metre. Crisp and tender when young, they are as fun to grow as they are good to eat.
Thrives where others fail
Loves heat and humidity that defeats ordinary beans, sets its own nitrogen, and asks very little. A reliable, trouble-free summer climber.
Grower's Profile
When to Sow in Australia
Snake bean is a warm-season, frost-tender climber that loves real heat. Sow direct once the soil is reliably warm and all frost has passed; in cooler areas, start under cover and plant out into the warmth. Use your local climate zone below as a guide.
| Climate Zone | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tropical Darwin, Cairns |
G | H | H | S | S | G | H | H | S | G | H | G |
| Subtropical Brisbane, N. NSW |
G | H | H | H | · | · | · | S | S | G | G | H |
| Temperate Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, ACT |
G | H | H | · | · | · | · | I | S | S | G | G |
| Arid / Semi-arid Alice Springs, Mildura, WA inland |
G | H | H | · | · | · | · | I | S | S | G | H |
| Cool / Mountain Tasmania, Highlands |
G | H | · | · | · | · | · | · | I | I | S | G |
Growing Guide
Sow seed 20–25 mm deep straight into warm soil once frost has passed. An overnight soak can help. Seedlings appear in about 8–14 days in warm conditions.
This is a strong climber, so provide a tall trellis, tepee or strings 2 m or more high from the start. Space plants about 20–30 cm apart along the support.
Grow in full sun with steady moisture and good mulch. As a legume it fixes its own nitrogen, so go easy on nitrogen-rich feeds — too much gives leaves at the expense of pods.
Harvest pods while young, slender and flexible — before the seeds swell and bulge. Picking every couple of days is the secret to keeping that high yield coming.
Never let pods over-mature on the vine, as this slows new flowering. Regular picking and consistent water keep the plant productive for many weeks.
Healthy Plants
Black or green clusters on tips, flowers and pods that can spread virus. Hose them off, encourage ladybirds, or treat with a mild organic soap spray.
A serious pest of beans in warm regions; larvae tunnel in the stems near the base, wilting young plants. Keep plants vigorous, mulch well, and remove affected seedlings.
Grubs that bore into pods and chew flowers. Inspect regularly, pick off by hand, and use an organic caterpillar control if numbers build up.
Rusty orange-brown spots on leaves in warm, humid spells. Space plants for airflow, water at the base, and remove badly affected leaves promptly.
White powdery film on leaves late in the season. Improve airflow, avoid overhead watering, and treat early with a milk or organic spray if needed.
Seedlings collapse in cold, wet soil. Sow only into warm, free-draining soil, avoid overwatering, and never sow too early in the season.
At a Glance
| Botanical & Culinary Profile | |
|---|---|
| Common Names | Snake Bean, Borboti (বরবটি), Yardlong Bean, Chinese Long Bean, Asparagus Bean |
| Botanical Name | Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis |
| Type | Open-pollinated — warm-season climbing legume |
| Key Trait | High yielding; heat-loving; pods 40–75 cm long |
| Seeds Per Pack | 8 seeds, hand-counted |
| Plant Habit | Vigorous climbing vine, 2–4 m tall |
| Sow Depth | 20–25 mm, direct sown |
| Germination | 8–14 days in warm soil |
| Spacing | 20–30 cm apart, on tall support |
| Days to Harvest | Approx. 60–80 days from sowing |
| Position | Full sun, warm, sheltered, rich free-draining soil; sturdy trellis |
| Uses | Stir-fries, dry-fries, curries, borboti bhaji; cut into short lengths |
| Origin | OZ grown & hand-packed in Australia by Eternity Essential Store |
In the Kitchen
Cut into short lengths. Snip the long pods into 3–5 cm pieces, then stir-fry, dry-fry or add to curries. They cook fast and stay pleasantly firm and crisp.
Best enjoyed cooked. Like most beans, snake beans are best lightly cooked rather than eaten raw — a quick stir-fry or simmer brings out their flavour and is the traditional way to serve them.
Pick young for the best texture. Slender, young pods are tender and sweet; older pods with bulging seeds become tougher and are better shelled for the beans inside.
Postage & Delivery
Fast dispatch in protective, moisture-resistant packaging straight to your letterbox. Combined postage on multiple seed packets — buy more and save.
Worldwide postage is available to most destinations. Delivery times vary by country and customs processing. Carefully packed to travel safely over long distances.
Every order is hand-checked and sealed in clearly labelled packets with the variety name and basic sowing notes, so you know exactly what you are planting.
It is the buyer's responsibility to check their own country's (and where relevant, their state's) import regulations, quarantine rules and biosecurity requirements before purchasing seeds.
Seeds and plant material are restricted or prohibited in some regions. Please confirm that this product can be legally imported to your location. We cannot be held responsible for items seized, destroyed or delayed by customs or quarantine authorities, and such items are not eligible for refund where loss results from local import restrictions.
By placing an order you confirm that you have checked and comply with the relevant import and biosecurity rules for your delivery address.
Eight seeds can drape a sunny trellis in cascading, yard-long pods all summer — crisp, prolific and perfect for stir-fries and curries. Add this pack to your basket and start climbing.
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