Yardlong Bean (Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis) is an edible bean in the family Fabaceae, widely grown in the warmer parts of Southeastern Asia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Southern China. It is also known as Snake Bean, Bora, Long-podded Cowpea, Asparagus Bean, or the Chinese long Bean. Despite its name, yardlong beans are actually about half a yard long, although the subspecies name sesquipedalis (one-and-a-half-foot-long) is a rather exact approximation of the beans' length. The different colors of mature seeds are used to determine the many varieties of yardlong beans. The seeds can be white, black, black-stripe, red , red-stripe, or purple in color.
Yardlong bean is a subtropical or tropical, vigorous climbing annual vine, growing for its long, 35-75 cm long, immature pods. The plants are quick-growing and the pods, usually come in pairs, begin to form just 60 days after sowing. The beans are best to harvest and picked for vegetable use before they reach full maturity, and daily harvesting is often a necessity. The plant is sensitive to the temperature, and grows relatively slow in mild or cold environments.
Yardlong beans are best when they are young and slender. The tender, crisp beans are eaten both fresh and cooked. The beans are usually cut into short sections when used in cooking. Yardlong beans are used in stir-fries in Chinese and Malaysian cuisine.
Yardlong beans are high in vitamin C, folate, magnesium, and manganese, and a good source for vitamin A, protein, thiamin, riboflavin, iron, phosphorus, and potassium.
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