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Bean Seeds - Contender Bush
$2.85
$3.05
Save $0.20🌱 Approx. 50 Premium Seeds
(Non-GMO, Heirloom)
Contender Bush Bean – The Heavy-Yielding Champion for the Earliest Possible Harvest
If you are looking for the fastest path from soil to table, the Contender Bush Bean is your top choice. Known for being one of the earliest producing green beans on the market, Contender is a favorite for gardeners with short growing seasons or those who simply can't wait for that first taste of summer. At The Seed Guy, we highly recommend this heirloom because it is incredibly "tough"—it thrives in heat and resists common bean diseases better than almost any other variety.
These sturdy, 12-20 inch bush plants produce a massive flush of 6-inch pods that are slightly curved, thick, and remarkably stringless. Because the plants are so robust and compact, they require no support and are excellent for both traditional rows and container gardening. Whether you are eating them fresh, steaming them for a side dish, or canning them for the pantry, the Contender Bush Bean provides a reliable, high-quality harvest every single time.
Why choose heirloom Contender Bush Bean Seeds
✅ 100% Non-GMO
✅ Open-pollinated
✅ One of the earliest maturing varieties
✅ Excellent heat and stress tolerance
✅ Strong resistance to Mildew and Mosaic Virus
✅ Completely stringless and tender
✅ Compact bush habit (no poles needed)
✅ High-yielding even in tough conditions
Quick Growing Specifications:
Hardiness Zone: 3-10
Days to Maturity: 45-55 Days
Planting Depth: 1" Deep
Plant Spacing: 3-4" Apart
Germination: 7-10 Days
Contender Bush Bean Planting Instructions:
1. Timing: Like all beans, Contender is frost-tender. Plant in full sun once the soil has warmed and the danger of frost has passed.
2. Sowing: Sow seeds 1 inch deep. Because these are bush beans, space them 3-4 inches apart in rows. No trellis or staking is required.
3. Care: Provide consistent water, especially when the plants are flowering. Mulching helps keep the roots cool and retains moisture during the heat of the summer.
4. Harvesting: Pick the beans when they are 5-6 inches long and before the seeds begin to bulge. Since this is such an early variety, keep picking to encourage a second flush of beans!
5. Pests and Diseases: Contender is known for its resistance to Common Bean Mosaic Virus and Mildew, but it still requires protection from common garden insects. Watch for these issues:
• The Main Culprit: Mexican Bean Beetles are the primary threat. They look like copper-colored ladybugs; both the adults and their yellow, fuzzy larvae will skeletonize the leaves if left unchecked.
• The Defense: Check the undersides of leaves regularly for bright yellow egg clusters and crush them. Hand-picking the beetles and dropping them into soapy water is a highly effective organic control.
• The "Dry Leaf" Rule: To prevent Bacterial Blight and Anthracnose, avoid working in your bean rows or harvesting while the plants are wet from rain or heavy dew.
• Harvesting for Production: Contender is a "workhorse" variety. If you harvest the pods promptly while they are young and tender, the plant will often reward you with a second heavy crop of beans!
Phaseolus vulgaris
Specific References
🌱 Approx. 50 Premium Seeds
(Non-GMO, Heirloom)
Contender Bush Bean – The Heavy-Yielding Champion for the Earliest Possible Harvest
If you are looking for the fastest path from soil to table, the Contender Bush Bean is your top choice. Known for being one of the earliest producing green beans on the market, Contender is a favorite for gardeners with short growing seasons or those who simply can't wait for that first taste of summer. At The Seed Guy, we highly recommend this heirloom because it is incredibly "tough"—it thrives in heat and resists common bean diseases better than almost any other variety.
These sturdy, 12-20 inch bush plants produce a massive flush of 6-inch pods that are slightly curved, thick, and remarkably stringless. Because the plants are so robust and compact, they require no support and are excellent for both traditional rows and container gardening. Whether you are eating them fresh, steaming them for a side dish, or canning them for the pantry, the Contender Bush Bean provides a reliable, high-quality harvest every single time.
Why choose heirloom Contender Bush Bean Seeds
✅ 100% Non-GMO
✅ Open-pollinated
✅ One of the earliest maturing varieties
✅ Excellent heat and stress tolerance
✅ Strong resistance to Mildew and Mosaic Virus
✅ Completely stringless and tender
✅ Compact bush habit (no poles needed)
✅ High-yielding even in tough conditions
Bean Seeds - Contender Bush
$2.85
$3.05
Save $0.20