Description

Bush Bean Blend Dragon Tongue & Provider

Two exceptional bush bean varieties, one productive garden blend!

Our Bush Bean Blend combines two reliable, flavorful varieties: Dragon Tongue and Provider bush beans. Selected for their productivity, excellent flavor, and adaptability to northern growing conditions, these beans are a wonderful addition to Alaska gardens and beyond.

Dragon Tongue produces beautiful cream-colored pods streaked with purple, while Provider delivers classic, tender green beans known for their dependable yields and early maturity. Together, they offer a colorful, delicious harvest perfect for fresh eating, cooking, freezing, and preserving.

Both varieties grow as compact bush plants, making them ideal for raised beds, traditional garden rows, and smaller growing spaces. No trellising or staking is required.

Why Grow Our Bush Bean Blend?

Two Varieties, One Delicious Harvest

Enjoy the best of both worlds with Dragon Tongue’s beautiful purple-streaked pods and Provider’s traditional green beans. Both offer excellent flavor, tender texture, and versatility in the kitchen.

Early-Maturing and Productive

Provider is especially valued for its early maturity, making it an excellent choice for Alaska’s short growing season. Dragon Tongue complements it with colorful, flavorful pods. Regular harvesting encourages continued production while plants are actively flowering.

Excellent for Northern Gardens

Bush beans are a great option for Alaska gardeners looking for productive crops that don’t require complicated support systems. Both varieties perform best in warm soil, and Provider is particularly well-known for its reliable germination under cooler soil conditions compared with many other bean varieties.

Compact Plants – No Trellis Required

Unlike pole beans, bush beans grow in a compact, upright form. Their manageable size makes them excellent for raised beds, garden rows, and small-space gardening.

Varieties Included

Dragon Tongue Bush Bean

Dragon Tongue, also known as Dragon’s Tongue, is a beautiful open-pollinated Dutch heirloom wax bean recognized for its broad, cream-yellow pods streaked with vibrant purple.

The tender, stringless pods have a rich, slightly nutty flavor and are delicious when harvested young. Their striking purple markings fade during cooking, so enjoy them raw when you want to showcase their beautiful colors.

• Days to maturity: Approximately 55–65 days
• Pod color: Cream-yellow with purple streaks
• Flavor: Sweet, tender, and slightly nutty
• Best uses: Fresh eating, sautéing, steaming, and freezing

Provider Bush Bean

Provider is a dependable, early-maturing green bush bean known for its vigorous growth and generous harvests. Its straight, smooth green pods offer the traditional snap bean flavor gardeners love.

Provider is especially valuable in northern climates because it can germinate in somewhat cooler soil than many other bean varieties, although warm soil is still preferred for reliable establishment.

• Days to maturity: Approximately 50–55 days
• Pod color: Deep green
• Flavor: Classic, tender green bean
• Best uses: Fresh eating, steaming, freezing, and canning using tested recipes

Growing Bush Beans in Alaska

Days to Maturity: Approximately 50–65 days, depending on variety and growing conditions

Plant Type: Annual, open-pollinated bush beans

Sun Requirements: Full sun, preferably 6–8 or more hours daily

Planting Depth: 1 inch

Seed Spacing: 4–6 inches apart

Row Spacing: 18–24 inches

Plant Height: Approximately 12–24 inches, depending on variety and growing conditions

Soil Temperature: Ideally 60–85°F for germination

Soil Requirements: Well-drained, moderately fertile soil

Water Requirements: Consistent moisture, particularly during flowering and pod development

Support: None required

Harvest: Pick young, tender pods regularly for the best flavor and texture

Planting Tips for Alaska Gardeners

Bush beans are warm-season crops and should be direct-sown outdoors after the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed sufficiently.

Although Provider can tolerate cooler germination conditions than many other beans, planting into cold, saturated soil increases the risk of poor germination and seed rot.

In Alaska, raised beds can help soil warm more quickly in spring. Row covers may also provide protection during cool weather, but should be removed or managed appropriately during flowering to allow pollinator access.

Avoid overfertilizing with nitrogen, which can encourage excessive leafy growth at the expense of bean production.

Harvest pods frequently while they are tender and before the seeds inside become overly developed.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bush Bean Blend

What varieties are included in the Bush Bean Blend?

Our Bush Bean Blend contains two open-pollinated varieties: Dragon Tongue and Provider. Dragon Tongue produces cream-yellow pods with purple streaks, while Provider produces traditional green snap beans.

Can you grow bush beans in Alaska?

Yes! Bush beans can grow successfully in Alaska when planted after the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed. Early-maturing varieties such as Provider are particularly useful for Alaska’s short growing season. Dragon Tongue also offers a relatively quick harvest when grown in favorable conditions.

Do bush beans need a trellis?

No. Both Dragon Tongue and Provider are bush varieties that grow as compact, self-supporting plants. They generally do not require stakes, cages, or trellises.

How long do bush beans take to grow?

Provider typically reaches maturity in approximately 50–55 days, while Dragon Tongue generally matures in 55–65 days. Cool temperatures and other growing conditions can extend the time to harvest.

Should I start bush beans indoors in Alaska?

Bush beans are generally best direct-sown into the garden after the soil warms. Their roots can be sensitive to transplant disturbance, and direct sowing usually produces strong, healthy plants. In especially short-season locations, careful indoor starting in individual biodegradable or deep containers may be an option.

Can Dragon Tongue and Provider beans grow together?

Yes! Both are bush beans with similar growing requirements, making them excellent companions in the same garden bed. Their different pod colors also make harvesting fun and visually appealing.

Are Dragon Tongue beans purple inside?

Dragon Tongue beans have cream-yellow pods with purple streaks on the outside. The purple coloration is primarily on the pod surface and generally fades when cooked.

Are these bush beans stringless?

Both varieties produce tender pods suitable for snap bean harvesting. Dragon Tongue is especially known for its stringless young pods, and Provider is also valued for its tender, low-fiber texture when harvested at the proper stage.

How often should I harvest bush beans?

Check plants every two to three days during peak production. Frequent harvesting helps maintain pod quality and can encourage additional production while the plants remain actively growing. Bush beans generally produce over a more concentrated period than pole beans.

Can I freeze or can these beans?

Yes! Both varieties are excellent for freezing and preserving. Blanching before freezing helps maintain quality. For canning, green and wax beans are low-acid vegetables and must be pressure canned according to a tested recipe.

Are bush beans good for raised beds?

Absolutely. Their compact growth habit, relatively shallow root systems, and lack of trellising requirements make bush beans well-suited to raised beds. Good drainage and warm soil are particularly beneficial in northern climates.

Grow a Colorful, Productive Bean Harvest

Whether you’re growing your first garden or adding dependable favorites to an established growing space, our Bush Bean Blend brings together two outstanding varieties that offer beauty, flavor, and reliable production.

From Dragon Tongue’s striking purple-streaked pods to Provider’s classic green beans, this blend makes it easy to grow a delicious harvest right in your own backyard.

Grow more variety, enjoy more flavor, and make the most of your growing season with our Dragon Tongue & Provider Bush Bean Blend.

For additional growing advice, visit our Alaska Gardening Tips