Dragon's Tongue
Dragon's Tongue is a heirloom bean. Germination takes 7-10 days and fruit ripens from about day 57. Skin runs to pale yellow with deep purple streaks. Water need is regular, consistent moisture; soil should remain evenly moist but not waterlogged. Suits zones 2-11. Bush habit, so it needs no staking.
Sowing
Direct sow 1 inch deep after last frost date when soil reaches 60°F (ideally 70°F); do not start indoors
Cultivation
- Sun
- Full sun (6+ hours)
- Water
- Regular, consistent moisture; soil should remain evenly moist but not waterlogged
- Soil
- Well-drained loam enriched with compost; avoid nitrogen-heavy fertilizers
- Spacing
- 4-6 inches between plants, 18-24 inches between rows
- Height
- 18-24 inches
- Season
- Warm season annual
Appearance & flavour
- Colour
- Pale yellow with deep purple streaks
- Size
- 6-6 1/2"
- Shape
- Bush
- Flavour
- Tender, sweet, buttery with subtle richness; excellent fresh or lightly cooked
In the kitchen
Fresh snap beans in salads, light steaming, sautéing, blanching and freezing, dried seed production
Pests, disease & resistance
- Pests
- Bean beetles, spider mites, aphids
- Diseases
- Bean rust, root rot in waterlogged conditions, powdery mildew in humid climates
Planting calendar by USDA zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Transplant | Direct sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | — | — | July – August | September – August |
| 2 | — | — | June – August | September |
| 3 | — | — | June – July | August – October |
| 4 | — | — | June – July | August – October |
| 5 | — | — | May – June | August – September |
| 6 | — | — | May – June | July – September |
| 7 | — | — | April – June | July – August |
| 8 | — | — | April – May | June – August |
| 9 | — | — | March – April | May – July |
| 10 | — | — | February – April | May – June |
| 11 | — | — | January – March | April – May |
| 12 | — | — | January – March | April – May |
| 13 | — | — | January – March | April – May |
Companion planting
8 beneficial pairings indexed for this variety, 3 to avoid.
Avoid
Nutrition (per 100 g)
- Protein (g)
- 1.97
- Fat (g)
- 0.275
- Carbohydrate (g)
- 7.41
- Fibre (g)
- 3.01
- Vitamin K (µg)
- 43.9
- Vitamin B6 (mg)
- 0.121
- Calcium (mg)
- 40
- Iron (mg)
- 0.652
- Magnesium (mg)
- 28.2
- Phosphorus (mg)
- 41.2
- Potassium (mg)
- 290
- Zinc (mg)
- 0.35
Where to buy seed and equipment
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Cultivar facts compiled from public horticultural references including USDA GRIN and NC State Extension. Descriptions are original to this catalogue.
Grown Dragon's Tongue?
Post a crop report — day counts, reservoir readings, what worked. Variety-specific logs are the most useful thing on the forum.
Similar varieties
Other beans with a comparable time to harvest, so a season that suits Dragon's Tongue suits these too.
- Detroit Dark Red Bush Bean 57 days
- Bush Kentucky Wonder 57 days
- Affirmed 56 days
- Northeaster 56 days
- Amethyst 56 days
- Monte Gusto 58 days