Yard long bean blooms

The first yard long bean flower appeared today. The vines are growing rapidly and I'm looking forward to harvesting the green beans sometime later this summer.

I've never grown beans before, but a friend recommended this variety for its rapid, dense growth and prolific green bean production. The bean pods grow unusually long -- up to 24 inches. The heat-loving bean should be harvested before they are much longer than foot or so, or they will be too tough to eat.

UPDATE 05/28/2016: I've harvested my first yard long beans