How to Grow and Care For Dragon Tongue Bush Beans

How to Plant Dragon Tongue Bush Beans

Bush beans are grown from seed directly sown in the garden.

When to Plant

Dragon tongue bush beans are not frost hardy so wait to sow seed until all danger of spring frost has passed. Soil temperature needs to reach 60 degrees Fahrenheit for good germination. Soil temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit can cause seeds to rot.

Selecting a Planting Site

Choose a garden spot with loose, sandy to loamy soil that drains well. Plant dragon tongue beans in a location that receives full sun daily and avoid spots where it can be shaded by taller crops.

Spacing, Depth, and Support

To grow in rows, place seeds 1-inch deep and 4 inches apart with 2 12 to 3 feet between rows. In a raised garden bed, planting in a grid or diamond pattern allows more efficient use of space. Plant seeds 1 12 inches deep allowing 6 inches of space in between. At heights of 2 to 2 12 feet tall dragon tongue bush bean does not need staking or fencing.

Dragon Tongue Bush Bean Care

Beans are nitrogen fixers, which means they almost take care of themselves. Dragon Tongue’s short, bushy growth habit makes for a tidy plant that doesn’t need pruning or support. Gardeners do need to watch out for pests like Mexican bean beetles and avoid working in the crop when wet. Thin stemmed branches can break easily.

Light

Six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily yields the best crops. Some shade is tolerated but reduces the harvest. Dragon tongue bean is a short plant so avoid locating it next to tall crops that block light.

Soil

This bush bean variety grows best in light, loamy soil with more sand than clay and a neutral pH of 6.0 to 7.0. If your soil has heavy clay content, work in sand or rotted compost before planting.

Water

Dragon Tongue bush bean needs a consistent schedule of irrigation that delivers an inch of water each week. During germination, keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy. Once plants are established water when necessary to supplement rainfall in your area. Drip irrigation is an easy and practical method for irrigating beans.

Temperature and Humidity

Ideal temperatures fall between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Dragon tongue beans adapt well to temperature and humidity levels but don’t tolerate frost. Seeds germinate reliably at soil temperatures of 60 degrees Fahrenheit but will rot in cool, wet conditions. When heat exceeds 85 degrees Fahrenheit, flowers can drop without producing fruit. In hot southern zones, use shade cloth during flowering and fruiting.

Fertilizer

Planted in adequate soil, dragon tongue bush beans don’t need much, if any, fertilizer. Organic or inorganic fertilizer can be applied just before or at planting time. A second application can be delivered when small beans begin to form. Avoid high nitrogen fertilizers which aren’t needed since plants manufacture their own. A product with NPK 5-10-10 is best. Too much nitrogen results in overgrowth of foliage and fewer beans.

Pollination

Pollinators aren’t absolutely necessary since dragon tongue beans are also pollinated by wind and movement among the plants. However, honeybees and bumblebees are attracted to the flowers and do an efficient job of pollinating the crop. If your garden lacks pollinators try luring them by including other plants near the bean patch. You can also encourage fertilization by gently shaking the plants or lightly sweeping a hand through the foliage.

Variety vs. Variety

Dragon tongue beans look similar to some varieties of cranberry beans that also have purple to red stippling or striping on the pod and uncooked beans.

Both are bush-type beans with short growing seasons, but cranberry beans are a type of kidney bean whereas dragon tongue beans are closer to a romano type. Although young pods are edible, cranberry beans are seldom eaten fresh and are better used as a shelled or dried bean. Picked early, dragon tongue beans are similar in taste and texture to snap (green) beans.

When cooked, both types of shelled or dried beans lose their color. Cranberry beans turn light brown and dragon tongue beans turn light yellow.

Harvesting

Dragon Tongue bush beans are harvested in 55 to 60 days for fresh eating. Young pods emerge cream-colored and develop purple streaking when ready to pick fresh. Each 5- to 8-inch pod holds four to six white beans with pink to purple striping. Pods are slightly flattened, stringless, and crisp with beans that have a nutty, starchy flavor.

For shelling beans, leave pods on the plants until purple stripes turn deep red. Or pods can be left until fully dried, then shelled for storage.

How to Grow Dragon Tongue Bush Beans in Pots

Dragon tongue bean’s short stature and bush habit allow for growing in pots. Each plant produces 15 to 25 pods so several plants are needed for a sufficient harvest. Two or three plants can be grown in a 5-gallon bucket however, shallow roots don’t need containers deeper than 8 inches. Pots do need at least three good drainage holes. Fill containers with loose potting mix. Combinations of garden soil, compost, and sand are adequate. Plant seeds 1 14-inch deep and 6 inches apart. Fertilize every three weeks with a low-nitrogen fertilizer. Watering may be required daily.

How to Grow Dragon Tongue Bush Beans From Seed

Dragon tongue bush beans grow easily from seed and are cultivated by direct sowing. Wait to plant until soil temperatures reach minimum 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Choose a location with six to eight hours of sunlight daily and loose, well-draining soil. In the garden or raised bed you can create a furrow or simply push the seeds into the ground 1 to 1 12 inches deep and 4 to 6 inches apart. If you’re planting in containers or raised beds, sow seed slightly deeper with a bit more space in between. Cover seeds with soil and keep them moist.

Common Pests and Plant Diseases

Insect pests, particularly the Mexican Bean beetle, can devastate a bean crop. Other invaders include marmorated stink bugs, aphids, flea beetles, and thrips. Look for small holes in foliage and regularly check the undersides of leaves and remove any eggs. Infestations can be treated with targeted organic or inorganic pesticides.

Although dragon tongue bush beans are vulnerable to the same diseases that infect other bean crops, planting in good soil and providing adequate light and water are often sufficient to grow a healthy crop. Mosaic virus, anthracnose, and fungal infections all can invade the bean patch. Rust may occur on young plants which often recover as they mature. Foliage contact with soil can result in white mold. Remove and dispose of any infected leaves to avoid spread.