Dragon Tongue
Dragon Tongue is a heirloom bean. Germination takes 7-12 days and fruit ripens from about day 60-70. Skin runs to cream with purple flame-like stripes. Water need is 1 inch per week, consistent moisture for best pod quality. Suits zones 2-11. It will crop in a container.
Sowing
Direct sow after soil reaches 60°F. Plant 1-1.5 inches deep. Handle seeds gently as they can be delicate.
Cultivation
- Sun
- Full sun (6+ hours)
- Water
- 1 inch per week, consistent moisture for best pod quality
- Soil
- Rich, well-drained soil with good organic content
- Soil pH
- 6.0-7.0
- Spacing
- 4-6 inches
- Season
- Warm season
Appearance & flavour
- Colour
- Cream with purple flame-like stripes
- Size
- 6-8 inches long
- Shape
- Flat, wide Romano-type pods
- Flavour
- Sweet, nutty, and tender with exceptional fresh bean taste
In the kitchen
Best fresh as snap beans, excellent in salads, light sautéing, steaming, specialty presentations
Pests, disease & resistance
- Pests
- Bean beetles, slugs (attracted to tender foliage), aphids
- Diseases
- Bacterial blight, white mold, anthracnose
- Resistance
- Moderate disease resistance, sensitive to wet conditions
Planting calendar by USDA zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Transplant | Direct sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | — | — | June – August | September |
| 3 | — | — | June – July | September – October |
| 4 | — | — | June – July | August – October |
| 5 | — | — | May – June | August – October |
| 6 | — | — | May – June | August – September |
| 7 | — | — | April – June | July – September |
| 8 | — | — | April – May | July – August |
| 9 | — | — | March – April | June – July |
| 10 | — | — | February – April | May – July |
| 11 | — | — | January – March | April – June |
| 12 | — | — | January – March | April – June |
| 13 | — | — | January – March | April – June |
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 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 Tongue suits these too.
- Borlotto Bush Bean 60 days
- Blue Lake Pole Bean 60 days
- Fortex 60 days
- Yellow Romano Pole Bean 60 days
- Fortex Pole Bean 60 days
- Red Noodle Long Bean 60 days