Dragon Tongue beans are some of the easiest veggies to grow, which makes them ideal for beginners and beloved by any veggie gardeners. They grow with little care, produce an abundance of pods and can add nitrogen to the garden soil, making them ideal plants for organic vegetable gardens. They are open-pollinated. This means you can allow the beans to mature on the vine and save some seeds to plant next year. Dragon Tongue beans had two initial points of appeal: their fantastic name, and their lovely golden-yellow color, and streaked with purple.
Dragon Tongue beans are a great bean variety for home gardeners, known for their productive, high yields and incredible flavor. These kind of beans are quite productive, and continued producing pods as long as you kept picking them. One of the advantages of growing Dragon Tongue beans is that they can be used as either fresh beans with edible pods, if picked young, or as dried beans if they are allowed to mature on the plant. This famous Dutch heirloom bean has an incomparable flavor.
Current Facts
Dragon Tongue beans are botanically a part of Phaseolus vulgaris and a member of the Fabaceae family. The Fabaceae or Leguminosae are a large and economically important family of flowering plants, which is commonly known as the legume, pea, or bean family. Dragon Tongue beans are a Dutch wax type bush bean, and are a dual purpose bean, qualifying as a fresh snap bean when harvested young and as a shelled bean when fully mature.
Dragon Tongue Beans History
Dragon Tongue Beans were originally cultivated in the Netherlands in the 18th century. From there it spread to France and England then eventually to the New World. Each country has cultivated them to adapt to their climates and growing atmospheres. The result is a beautiful, versatile, and hardy plant to enjoy looking at and eating. Dragon Tongue beans have been naturalized in a wide range of climates, having the ability to adapt to heat and humidity. Like many beans Dragon Tongue beans are not tolerant of frost and seeds should be planted well after the ground has thawed for the season.
Dragon Tongue Beans Description
Dragon Tongue bean is a bush-type bean with purple flowers. Produces gorgeous yellowish-green beans with bright-purple mottling. Mature plants will reach a maximum height of 2 to 3 feet. Dragon Tongue beans can be harvested young and eaten in their entirety or left on the plant to dry until the seeds rattle in the pod. The fully dried Tongue beans display the same amazing colors and can be saved for use in a range of dishes.
Nutritional Value of Dragon Tongue Beans
Dragon Tongue beans are rich in protein, fiber, potassium, selenium, iron, folate, manganese, vitamins A, C and K, and calcium. The nutrients found in these green beans are cited as being beneficial to the heart, colon, and general stomach health. Dragon Tongue beans are also perfect for pickling along with fresh herbs, spices, and other vegetables.
How to Grow Organic Dragon Tongue Bean
Where to Grow Dragon Tongue Beans
Dragon beans prefer a sunny, well-drained spot, and like fertile soil that is well draining, rich in organic matter, and a fairly neutral PH level (around 6.0-7.0). They grow best in fertile soil Preparing the soil with compost and manure before planting is highly recommended!
Watch How to Use Composted Chicken Manure
How to Sow Dragon Tongue Bean Seeds
After all risk of frost has past, sow bean seeds in a location with direct sun and soil with good drainage. You may want to soak the seeds overnight before sowing to get a head start on germination. This is optional, but it will help to speed the process.
Watch How to Sow Dragon Tongue Bean Seeds Video
- Dig individual planting holes with a trowel and drop in two to three seeds per hole.
- Cove the seeds with soil.
- Water the soil lightly after sowing the seeds and then regularly, until they sprout.
- Make the first sowing one week before your last expected frost date, then continue sowing every three weeks until midsummer.
Dragon Tongue bean seeds will sprout in 8-16 days, depending on conditions. Once they have pushed up, spread mulch lightly over the surface of the soil to help conserve moisture.
Dragon Tongue beans grow well when mulched. Mulching helps to keep down weeds, reduce pests, hold moisture in the soil, and reduce risk of disease for the plants.
Once the plants begin to set flowers, you’ll need to water moderately.
Water your plants once a week, and make sure that the soil is moist not wet to ensure good growing condition for maximum production. When watering, try to avoid getting the leaves wet. Always water at the base of plants, and avoid over head watering because excess water on the foliage can promote fungus or other damaging conditions that beans can be susceptible to. It's the best watering practice in the garden. Most types of beans are somewhat drought resistant, but check the surface of the soil frequently and water when the top layer has become dried out.
I always enjoy watching Dragon tongue beans as they grow and mature. They start out as tiny baby beans that are green and quickly start getting purple streaking. As they continue to mature, they go from a neon green background to yellow all while keeping their gorgeous purple striping.
Once established, Dragon Tongue Beans don’t need supplemental fertilizer as they fix their own nitrogen. Once your plants begin producing beans, you can keep them producing by continually harvesting from them as pods mature. They can last for a long time!
Crop Rotation:
A three year rotation will reduce susceptibility to diseases in the garden soil.
Companion Plants:
Growing Dragon Tongue Beans in Containers
Dragon tongue Beans don’t require a lot of space and soil and tend to grow very well in confined spaces such containers. Dragon tongue beans grow on strong stems and reach a maximum height of about two feet tall. They do not require trellising or support as they take on a bushy shape as they mature.
Because of their short stature, they require only about 7 inches of soil to grow, and as they aren’t vining like pole beans, they require very little maintenance. Consistent watering is important for maximum yield. Once the beans begin to make flowers, it is especially important to keep the soil constantly moist. If the plants get too dry, they will drop flowers.
Harvesting Dragon Tongue Beans
Harvesting beans is an ongoing task and the more beans you pick, the more beans the plants will set so pick beans regularly to keep the plant producing . When you pick the pods, you encourage more blossoms and more pods. You can start harvesting anytime after the beans form. 
Harvest by gently pulling each bean from the vine or by snapping them off at the vine end. For the best flavor and nutritional value pick your beans when they're young and tender.
Watch How to Harvest Dragon Tongue Beans
If you want to use them as a dry shell bean, you need to just leave them on the plant until they dry out and then harvest them. You will be able to store your dry beans for eating as well as save some of the seeds for the next year as these are an heirloom variety and will reproduce true to itself.
Shell the dried pods then bring the beans inside to dry further in an airy location. Store the beans in paper envelopes, labeled with the variety and date, then use them for next growing season.
Watch How to Collect Dry Dragon Tongue Beans
How to Preserve Dragon Tongue Beans
The dried Dragon Tongue beans can be used like other beans in soups, salads, and many other dishes. There are multiple ways to preserve beans for later enjoyment. My top method of bean preservation is canning, and another great way to preserve them is to freeze them.
Storing shelled Dragon Tongue Beans
Dried shelling beans may be stored in glass jars or storage containers in a cool, dark, dry location for around two years.
Dragon Tongue Bean Seeds Available From HERE!
WATCH IN MY ORGANIC GARDEN - DRAGON TONGUE BEANS-
If you have never ventured beyond grow one of the favorite green beans, I'd encourage you to give dragon tongue beans a try.
Dragon tongue beans have delicious flavor and a wonderful texture, making them a worthy addition to the vegetable garden. You just might find a little magic in your veggie garden after all!
If you have any tips for growing dragon tongue beans, we'd love to hear them - please share them in the comments below.
From HERE You can buy good bean varieties to grow in your garden!
Happy Organic Gardening!
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