Green beans, also known as string beans or snap beans, are a popular vegetable grown and consumed around the world. While most green beans are relatively small in size, reaching between 4-6 inches long at maturity, some varieties have been selectively bred to produce extraordinarily large pods. So what is considered the world’s largest green bean? Let’s take a look at some record holders.
What is the Average Size of a Green Bean?
Most standard green bean cultivars produce pods that are around 4-6 inches long at maturity. These common varieties include Blue Lake, Contender, Provider, and many others grown in home gardens and commercially. The pods are slender, crisp, and bright green. When harvested young and tender they are often called “snap beans” because of the snapping sound they make when broken in half.
When allowed to mature fully on the vine for use as shelling or dry beans, the pods swell with the developing seeds inside. At this mature stage, pod length ranges from 5-7 inches for most varieties grown for fresh eating or processing.
So in summary, the average green bean is less than 6 inches long when harvested for eating fresh or canning. The long, slender pods are one of the defining characteristics of the common green bean.
World Records for Longest Green Beans
While typical green beans are under 6 inches, through selective breeding and likely some lucky genetic mutations, gardeners have produced some remarkably long pods over the years. Let’s look at some of the longest green beans ever recorded.
1. 34-Inch Long Bean – Grown by Don Laferrera
According to the 1989 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records, the longest green bean pod ever measured was 34 inches long. This extraordinarily lengthy bean was grown in 1984 by Donald Laferrera of California.
For perspective, Laferrera’s record-breaking bean was over 5 times longer than an average 6-inch long green bean pod. Photos reveal it was still slender like typical green beans, just dramatically elongated.
2. 25.5-Inch Bean – Grown by Tom Graham
In 2002, tomato gardener Tom Graham of Wisconsin set out to break Laferrera’s seemingly unbeatable 34-inch record. While he came up short of the 34-inch mark, Graham did manage to grow a green bean measuring 25.5 inches long.
For Graham’s bean, the diameter was only around 0.5 inches across, with very small seeds inside. So this was still a rather slender pod, just extraordinarily long for a green bean.
3. 21-Inch Long Bean – Grown by Denise Laferrera
The previous record-holder Don Laferrera saw his 34-inch record surpassed in 2002 by Graham’s 25.5-inch bean. But the Laferrera family remained competitive. Denise Laferrera, Don’s daughter, soon grew a 21-inch long green bean in her garden, regaining the family’s claim to fame.
While 21 inches is notably shorter than Don’s 34-inch bean, it’s still over 3 times longer than an average length green bean pod.
What Accounts for the Unusually Long Pods?
So what allows these select green beans to reach such dramatic lengths compared to conventional beans? A few key factors play a role:
- Genetics – Longer-podded bean varieties seem predisposed to produce extra lengthy beans under the right conditions.
- Optimal growing conditions – Factors like soil quality, moisture, and sun exposure allow the genetic potential to be fully expressed.
- Leaving the beans on the vine – Allowing the beans to grow well past maturity before harvesting results in the extremely long pods.
There is likely also an element of random chance, with genetic mutations occasionally producing an exceptionally long pod. With over 19,000 green bean varieties, even regular beans likely exhibit some natural variation in pod length.
Current Record Holders for Long Green Beans
Since the publicized battles for the longest green bean record in the 1980s and 2000s, it seems no one has exceeded Tom Graham’s 25.5-inch bean from 2002. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the holders of the current records are:
| Category | Record Holder | Bean Length | Year Grown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Longest Green Bean | Tom Graham (USA) | 25.5 inches | 2002 |
| Longest Green Bean – Female Grower | Denise Laferrera (USA) | 21 inches | 2003 |
So despite many ambitious gardeners’ attempts, the lengthy beans grown by Graham and Laferrera remain the longest ever verified and officially recorded.
Average Weight of Extra Long Beans
Since extraordinarily long green beans are still quite slender in diameter, they do not actually weigh much more than typical pods. Here are some reported weights:
- Tom Graham’s 25.5-inch bean reportedly weighed 4 ounces
- Denise Laferrera’s 21-inch bean weighed 5 ounces
- A more typical 6-inch long green bean weighs around 1/2 ounce
So while radically longer in size, the giant beans only weigh about 8-10 times more than an average bean due to their slender, narrow shape.
How Do Long Beans Taste?
Most extremely long green beans are bred more for novelty and competition than flavor. Since they are left on the vine past optimal picking maturity, the texture becomes rubbery and the seeds overdeveloped.
But some growers report that smaller beans around 12-15 inches long can still be harvested young enough to retain good flavor and crunch. The ideal length for both flavor and impressive appearance seems to be 10-12 inches.
When seeds and moisture are allowed to fully develop, the extremely long beans take on a tougher, stringier texture. So flavor and enjoyment are sacrificed in the quest for record-breaking length.
USES OF GIANT GREEN BEANS
Due to their novelty appeal, extra long green beans can be used in a number of creative ways when flavor is not a priority:
- Specimen displays at fairs and exhibitions
- Entry into record books like Guinness World Records
- Contests for longest produce at festivals
- Decorative elements in centerpieces, wreaths, etc.
- Conversation pieces
- Educational tools
The shock value and curiosity factor of an extraordinarily long bean draws attention at events and locations where the bean can be shown off. Their natural novelty makes them more of a decorative display piece than a food ingredient.
Cultivation of Extra Long Beans
For home gardeners hoping to grow their own super long green beans, here are some tips:
- Select an heirloom pole bean variety with genetics for long pods
- Grow vertically on a strong trellis or pole
- Plant in very fertile soil enriched with compost or manure
- Water regularly
- Allow some pods to exceed normal harvesting stage, but pick before bulging seeds split pods
- Hope for luck with genetics, environment, and weather!
The beans with the most potential to reach record-breaking lengths are climbing heirloom varieties like Polestar, Blue Lake, Rattlesnake, and Fortex. But any beans left on the vine past standard picking times may continue to elongate into uncommonly long pods.
Conclusion
While most standard green beans reach mature lengths between 4-6 inches, selective breeding and genetic anomalies can produce pods over 25 inches long. The current record holders for the world’s longest verified green beans were grown by Tom Graham (25.5 inches) and Denise Laferrera (21 inches).
However, extraordinarily lengthy beans are produced more as curiosities and novelty specimens than as a tasty edible crop. Their exaggerated size comes at the cost of flavor and texture. Still, dedicated growers continue to push the limits of just how long a green bean can get, if left on the vine long enough.