Bean – Purple Queen

Description

Purple Queen Bean

50 Seeds per pack

Days to Maturity: 52 – 56 Days

Sun Requirements: Full sun to very light shade.

Botanical Name: (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Purple Queen is a family favorite heirloom bush snap bean that brings beauty, fun, and great taste to the garden! Compact plants grow 12 to 14 inches tall and produce generous harvests of stringless pods that average 5 to 7½ inches long. With their deep purple color, charming purple flowers, and purplish-green foliage, these beans are as pretty as they are productive.

This variety matures quickly in about 50 to 55 days and often starts producing just weeks after flowering. Because Purple Queen tolerates cooler soil and air temperatures, it can be planted up to two weeks earlier than most beans, making it a great choice for families who want a reliable, easy-to-grow crop right at the start of the season.

Kids especially love Purple Queen! The pods are a bold, fun purple when picked and then magically change to a brilliant dark-green when cooked. Children enjoy snacking on them fresh right out of the garden, and the plants are small and easy enough that kids can care for their very own bean patch. For parents, this variety is a wonderful way to introduce children to gardening while serving up a fresh, healthy snack the whole family can enjoy.

The flavor is tender, mildly sweet, and slightly nutty. Raw pods add crunch and color to salads or sandwiches, while lightly cooked beans turn smooth, rich, and satisfying. With its early maturity, high yields, and charm, Purple Queen is a bean that the whole family can enjoy!

Planting Instructions for Purple Queen Bean Seeds

Introduction. Purple Queen is a very easy bean to grow, making it an excellent choice for beginners and children. Compact bush type plants just twelve to fourteen inches tall produce abundant harvests of stringless pods five to seven and a half inches long. Kids especially enjoy the bold purple pods that turn green when cooked, and with quick maturity in fifty-two to fifty-six days, new gardeners are rewarded with success in no time!

When to Plant. Direct sew Purple Queen beans outdoors after the last frost date once soil has warmed to at least sixty degrees Fahrenheit. Thanks to its tolerance of cooler soils, it can often be planted a little earlier than other beans, giving an earlier harvest. For a longer picking season, stagger plantings every two to three weeks until midsummer.

Where to Plant. Choose a location in full sun for best yields, though Purple Queen will tolerate very light shade. Beans prefer fertile, well-drained soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Work compost or well-aged manure into the soil before planting. Avoid planting beans in the same spot as the previous year to reduce the chance of disease.

How to Plant. Sow seeds 1-1.5″ deep in rows spaced eighteen to twenty-four inches apart. Place seeds two to three inches apart within rows. When seedlings reach about three inches tall, thin to one plant every four to six inches for proper spacing. Germination typically occurs in six to ten days, depending on soil warmth.

Care. Keep soil evenly moist during germination, flowering, and pod set, aiming for about one inch of water per week. Water at the base of plants to keep foliage dry and reduce disease risks. Mulch with straw or shredded leaves to help conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and keep pods clean. Like other beans, Purple Queen fixes its own nitrogen, so little fertilizer is required beyond compost. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers, which encourage leaf growth at the expense of beans.

Pests and Diseases. Purple Queen is hardy and dependable, but keep an eye out for bean beetles, aphids, and slugs. Row covers early in the season, attracting beneficial insects, and maintaining a clean, weed-free garden all help reduce problems. To prevent fungal issues such as rust, avoid overhead watering and handling plants when wet.

Harvest. Pods are ready to pick in about fifty-two to fifty-six days, when they are crisp, stringless, and five to seven and a half inches long. Harvest frequently, every two to three days, to encourage continuous production and to enjoy pods at peak tenderness. The fun purple pods turn green when cooked, but they hold their flavor and texture beautifully whether eaten raw, lightly steamed, or sautéed.

Storage and Use. Fresh beans are best enjoyed right after harvest but will store in the refrigerator for up to a week in a breathable container. For longer storage, blanch pods in boiling water for a few minutes, cool quickly in ice water, drain, and freeze in airtight containers. Purple Queen beans also can well and keep their rich, nutty flavor.

Seed Saving. Purple Queen is an open-pollinated variety, making it suitable for seed saving. Allow pods to remain on the plant until fully mature, dry, and tan in color. When shaken, seeds inside should rattle. Harvest dry pods and lay them indoors in a warm, ventilated space for another two weeks to complete drying. Once dry, shell seeds and store them in seed saving envelopes inside airtight containers. For longest storage life, keep seeds cool and dry, ideally between thirty-two and forty-one degrees Fahrenheit. Include a moisture-absorbing packet, such as silica gel, and label containers with variety name and harvest year. Save seed only from the healthiest plants to ensure vigorous crops in future seasons.

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