Lazy Housewife

SKU: BN209
Lazy Housewife was the first stringless snap bean introduced in North America, making it faster and easier to prepare for cooking, hence its name. Read More

Exposure Full Sun

Matures 80 days

Season Spring

Seed type OP ?

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Heirloom
Shipping & Returns

West Coast Seeds ships anywhere in North America. However, we are not able to ship garlic, potatoes, asparagus crowns, bulbs, onion sets, Mason bee cocoons, or nematodes outside of Canada. We regret, we cannot accept returns or damages for orders outside of Canada. The minimum shipping charge to the US is $9.99.

Lazy Housewife

Product Details

This old time heirloom pole bean was first introduced by W. Atlas Burpee back in 1885. Its pods are green and entirely stringless, with a rich and buttery flavour when cooked. Use it as a snap bean, or allow the all-white, pearl-like seeds to develop for use as dry beans all winter. Lazy Housewife was the first stringless snap bean introduced in North America, making it faster and easier to prepare for cooking, hence its name. Times have changed since it was named, but we are pleased to offer this classic taste of gardens past. Provide a trellis for this enthusiastic climber.

Matures in 80 days. (Open-pollinated seeds)

Quick Facts:

    • Pole bean
    • Long, buttery, stringless beans
    • Excellent drying bean
    • Heirloom dating to 1885
    • Open-pollinated seeds

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Lazy Housewife

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All About Lazy Housewife

Latin

Latin
Phaseolus vulgaris
Family: Fabaceae

Difficulty

Difficulty
Easy

Season & Zone

Season & Zone
Season: Warm Season
Exposure: Full-sun

Timing

Timing
Direct sow from late spring to early summer. Try to plant during a warm, dry spell. Soil must be warm – if it is not warm enough, seeds may rot, especially our untreated seeds. Optimal soil temperature: 21-32°C (70-90°F).

Starting

Starting
Seeds can be started indoors, or sowed directly. Set seeds 7-10cm (3-4″) apart and 3.5cm (1½”) deep at the base of a support. Plants will climb by twining around almost anything. Try rough poles, lumber, re-bar, or build a strong trellis 2-2.5m (6-8′) tall. Seeds will sprout in 8-16 days, depending on soil conditions.

Growing

Growing
Ideal pH: 6.0-6.5. Well drained, warm soil in full sun is best. Use 1 cup of balanced organic fertilizer for every 3m (10′) of row. Too much nitrogen in fertilizer or manure is often the cause of poor pod set and delayed maturity. If beans flower but do not set pods, the cause can be zinc deficiency. Try spraying the plants with kelp based fertilizer. Wet leaves on crowded plants are subject to diseases. Thin plants to increase air circulation and avoid touching the leaves while they are wet.

Harvest

Harvest
Because pole beans are always climbing, there are always beans at different stages of maturity. It is important to keep picking regularly so the plant does not fully mature seeds and stop producing new pods. If pods get fat with seed, the plant will stop flowering. The smaller the bean, the more tender they are.

Seed Info

Seed Info
In optimal conditions at least 75% of seeds should germinate. Usual seed life: 3 years. Per 100′ row: 400 seeds. Per acre: 43.5M seeds.

Diseases & Pests

Diseases & Pests
If beans flower but do not set pods, the cause can be a zinc deficiency. Try spraying the plants with Kelpman. Wet leaves on crowded plants are subject to diseases. Thin plants to increase air circulation and try not to touch the plants while they are wet.

Companion Planting

Companion Planting
Beans fix nitrogen in the soil. Plant with Brassicas, carrots, celery, chard, corn, cucumber, eggplant, peas, potatoes, radish, and strawberries. Avoid planting near chives, garlic, leeks, and onions. Pole beans and beets stunt each other’s growth.

More on Companion Planting.

How to Grow Pole Beans

Step 1

Timing

Direct sow from late spring to early summer. Try to plant during a warm, dry spell. Soil must be warm – if it is not warm enough, seeds may rot, especially our untreated seeds. Optimal soil temperature: 21-32°C (70-90°F).

Step 2

Starting

Seeds can be started indoors, or sowed directly. Set seeds 7-10cm (3-4″) apart and 3.5cm (1½”) deep at the base of a support. Plants will climb by twining around almost anything. Try rough poles, lumber, re-bar, or build a strong trellis 2-2.5m (6-8′) tall. Seeds will sprout in 8-16 days, depending on soil conditions.

Step 3

Growing

Ideal pH: 6.0-6.5

Well drained, warm soil in full sun is best. Use 1 cup of balanced organic fertilizer for every 3m (10′) of row. Too much nitrogen in fertilizer or manure is often the cause of poor pod set and delayed maturity. If beans flower but do not set pods, the cause can be zinc deficiency. Try spraying the plants with kelp based fertilizer.

Step 4

Germination

Days to maturity: From direct sowing.

In optimal conditions at least 75% of seeds should germinate. Usual seed life: 3 years. Per 100′ row: 400 seeds. Per acre: 43.5M seeds.

Step 5

Harvest

Because pole beans are always climbing, there are always beans at different stages of maturity. It is important to keep picking regularly so the plant does not fully mature seeds and stop producing new pods. If pods get fat with seed, the plant will stop flowering. The smaller the bean, the more tender they are.

Tips

Diseases & Pests

If beans flower but do not set pods, the cause can be a zinc deficiency. Try spraying the plants with Kelpman.

Companion Planting

Beans fix nitrogen in the soil. Plant with Brassicas, carrots, celery, chard, corn, cucumber, eggplant, peas, potatoes, radish, and strawberries. Avoid planting near chives, garlic, leeks, and onions. Pole beans and beets stunt each other’s growth.

Customer Reviews & Questions