Seeds: When properly stored, planted, and cared for, we guarantee reasonable germination and true-to-type growth for one year from purchase.
Non-seed products: Free from defects in materials and workmanship for 30 days from shipment.
Excludes factors outside our control (extreme weather, pests, gardener error). If something’s off, contact us—we’ll make it right with a replacement, repair, or refund.
USDA “bioengineered (BE)” foods are those with detectable genetic material that was modified using in vitro recombinant DNA (rDNA) techniques, in ways
not obtainable through conventional breeding or found in nature. The USDA’s National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard uses “bioengineered” as the nationwide labeling term.
Detectable modified genetic material in the final food
Created via in vitro rDNA techniques (e.g., gene transfer)
Modifications not achievable through conventional breeding or nature
—seeds / pkt
( ~ g )
Description
A time-tested classic among early bush beans, Contender—also known historically as Bluff Valentine—is valued for its reliability, flavor, and speed to harvest. Plants stand about 18–24 inches tall, producing abundant 6-inch pods that are slightly curved, tender, and stringless when picked young. The beans have a rich, full flavor and firm texture that holds well for both fresh eating and canning.
One of the earliest maturing green beans available, Contender thrives in cool or warm conditions alike, setting pods even through heat stress. Its early yields make it ideal for short growing seasons or successive plantings to ensure a steady supply of fresh beans throughout summer.
Introduced in the early 1940s, Contender remains a favorite for its adaptability and dependable performance—a steadfast heirloom that continues to earn its place in gardens from coast to coast.
Location Selection: Choose a location with full sun for optimal growth. Beans thrive in warm, sunny areas.
Soil Preparation: Ensure the soil is well-drained and enriched with organic matter. Beans prefer loamy soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5.
Sowing Seeds:
Direct Sowing: Sow seeds directly outdoors in late spring after the danger of frost has passed. Plant seeds 1-2 inches deep and 3-4 inches apart in rows spaced 18-24 inches apart.
Germination: Seeds typically germinate within 7-14 days. Maintain consistent moisture levels in the soil during this period.
Care Instructions:
Watering: Water regularly to keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Beans do not tolerate drought well.
Fertilizing: Beans generally do not require much fertilization as they fix their own nitrogen. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers which can promote excessive foliage growth at the expense of pod production.
Mulching: Apply a thin layer of mulch around the base of the plants to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Pests and Diseases: Beans can be affected by pests such as aphids, bean beetles, and diseases like powdery mildew. Regular inspection and prompt treatment with appropriate organic or chemical controls are recommended.
Special Considerations:
Harvesting: Harvest beans when the pods are young and tender for the best flavor. Regular picking encourages continued production.
How to Grow — Common Bush Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris)
Once your bush beans have sprouted and established their first true leaves, their success depends upon consistent moisture, soil balance, and steady maintenance rather than heavy feeding or pruning. These are quick, productive plants that thrive on moderation and rhythm more than excess.
Soil Health & Root Care
Keep the soil light, open, and evenly moist, never compacted. Bush beans possess shallow, fibrous root systems that suffer from deep cultivation or crusted topsoil. Use mulch or light compost cover to suppress weeds and protect root zones. A half-inch layer of fine compost midseason replenishes nutrients and encourages microbial activity that supports nitrogen fixation at the roots.
Avoid excessive fertilization — bush beans form a symbiotic relationship with Rhizobium bacteria to create their own nitrogen supply. Overfeeding, especially with nitrogen-rich inputs, promotes dense foliage and delays flowering. Instead, focus on soil biology: earthworms, compost, and organic matter.
Watering & Moisture Regulation
Bush beans demand consistent, even watering through flowering and pod development. Supply roughly 1 to 1¼ inches per week, adjusting for rainfall. Deep watering every few days is far superior to frequent shallow sprinkling. Allow the top inch of soil to dry slightly between sessions to encourage deeper rooting.
Water early in the morning so foliage dries quickly, reducing fungal pressure. If irrigation splashes soil onto leaves, mulch with straw, shredded bark, or aged compost to minimize disease spread. Avoid overhead watering once pods set, as this increases the risk of rust and bacterial blight.
Mulching & Temperature Moderation
Apply a 2–3 inch layer of organic mulch once the plants are 6 inches tall. Mulch regulates moisture, prevents weeds, and keeps soil temperatures stable. In hot regions, straw mulch prevents overheating; in cooler areas, black plastic or fabric mulch retains warmth and speeds growth.
Weed, Pest & Disease Management
Because bush beans mature rapidly, even mild stress can reduce yields. Keep the beds weed-free, especially in the first 4 weeks when roots are shallow. Avoid cultivating too deeply near the stems.
Inspect plants weekly for bean beetles, aphids, and leaf spot. At first signs of damage, use neem oil or insecticidal soap and handpick adults. Encourage beneficial predators like lady beetles and lacewings. Rotate bean crops annually — at least every 3–4 years — to reduce disease buildup in the soil.
For fungal control, ensure air circulation by spacing rows 18–24 inches apart. Remove any yellowing leaves promptly, and water at the base of plants rather than overhead.
Feeding & Midseason Care
After the first flush of blooms, top-dress rows with compost or worm castings. This provides a balanced, slow nutrient release to sustain pod set without excessive leaf growth. Avoid foliar sprays rich in nitrogen; instead, choose potassium- and phosphorus-dominant organic feeds if pods appear sparse.
A compost tea or diluted seaweed extract applied around bloom time boosts resilience and encourages abundant flowering.
Mid- to Late-Season Renewal
Bush beans often produce in waves. After the initial heavy harvest, trim back spent or yellowing foliage slightly and apply a shallow compost top-dress. Water deeply afterward to stimulate new shoots. With this treatment, many varieties yield a secondary flush before frost.
Remove mature pods promptly. Overripe pods on the plant signal completion of the life cycle, causing flowering to slow or cease. By keeping the plants clean and harvested, you extend their vigor and productivity.
General Growing Rhythm
Maintain steady moisture and avoid wide fluctuations.
Keep mulch in place from midseason onward.
Feed lightly but regularly through compost, not fertilizer.
Rotate beans with non-leguminous crops each year.
Remove diseased debris at season’s end to prevent overwintering pathogens.
Harvesting
Pick pods young at 5–6 inches, smooth and firm, before seeds bulge. Harvest every 2–3 days to keep plants productive. For dry beans, allow pods to yellow and rattle before gathering.
Flavor & Culinary Notes
A dependable classic with rich, full-bodied bean flavor. Pods are tender and stringless, excellent for fresh eating, canning, or sautéing. Especially flavorful steamed with butter or in bean salads.
Handling & Storage
Refrigerate pods unwashed in a perforated bag at 38–40°F for up to 7 days. For freezing, blanch 2 minutes, chill, and drain before bagging.
Growing & Maintenance
Support: Bush habit, self-supporting.
Soil and feeding: Fertile soil with good drainage; avoid heavy nitrogen.
Watering: Keep evenly moist, about 1 inch weekly.
Inoculation: Common bean inoculant recommended.
Succession: Sow every 10–14 days for a continued harvest window.
Seed Saving
Let pods dry fully before harvest. Thresh and winnow clean. Store seed at 8–9% moisture in airtight containers. Viable 4–5 years.
Container Tips
Grow 3–4 plants in a 10-gallon pot. Add compost midseason for vigor.
Common Pairings in the Garden
Pairs well with carrots, cucumbers, and savory. Avoid alliums.
Extended Season Care
Cover with row fabric early spring and late fall to protect from cool nights.
Common Pests & Problems — Contender (Bluff Valentine) Bean
Insect Pests
Mexican Bean Beetle:
Chews between leaf veins, leaving skeletonized foliage. Handpick beetles and larvae, use floating row covers in early growth, and remove crop debris post-harvest to disrupt overwintering.
Aphids:
Congregate on new leaves, causing curling and sticky honeydew buildup. Knock off with a strong spray of water or treat with insecticidal soap or neem oil. Encourage beneficial predators such as lady beetles and lacewings.
Seedcorn Maggot:
Infests seeds during cool, wet springs. Delay planting until soil is warm (above 65°F) and avoid freshly manured beds that attract egg-laying flies.
Cutworms:
Larvae sever young seedlings at soil level during night hours. Place cardboard collars around stems and maintain clean, weed-free beds.
Spider Mites:
Infestations appear as stippled or bronzed leaves during hot, dry weather. Rinse undersides of leaves and maintain consistent soil moisture to deter outbreaks.
Fungal and Bacterial Diseases
Anthracnose:
Causes dark, sunken lesions on pods and stems. Use clean seed, avoid overhead watering, and rotate beans with non-legume crops for at least three years.
Rust:
Small, reddish pustules appear on the undersides of leaves, reducing vigor. Improve spacing for airflow, water early in the day, and remove infected foliage.
Common and Halo Blight:
Create water-soaked leaf spots with yellow margins. Avoid handling wet plants, disinfect tools, and remove diseased material promptly.
Root Rot (Rhizoctonia, Fusarium, Pythium):
Results in brown, decaying roots and stunted plants in poorly drained soils. Improve drainage and avoid excessive watering.
Bean Mosaic Virus:
Leads to mottled or puckered foliage and reduced yield. Control aphid vectors and destroy infected plants immediately.
Physiological and Environmental Issues
Poor Pod Set:
Extreme heat or cold during bloom causes flower drop. Maintain even soil moisture and consider shading during high temperatures above 90°F.
Water Stress:
Irregular watering leads to tough pods and reduced yield. Water deeply once or twice weekly and mulch to stabilize soil moisture.
Nutrient Deficiency:
Pale, stunted plants may signal low nitrogen or poor nodulation. Inoculate seed with Rhizobium and avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers that inhibit root bacteria.
Soil Compaction:
Prevents root development and increases susceptibility to rot. Loosen soil and amend with organic matter before planting.
Integrated Management Tips
Rotate bean plantings every 3–4 years to reduce disease buildup.
Water at the base early in the day to keep foliage dry.
Mulch to conserve soil moisture and prevent soil splash.
Maintain clean beds and remove all plant debris after harvest.
Inspect weekly for beetles, aphids, and early signs of blight.
Q: What makes Contender (Bluff Valentine) beans unique?
A: Contender, also known historically as Bluff Valentine, is valued for its early maturity, excellent flavor, and ability to produce in both cool and warm weather. It’s one of the most dependable green beans for variable climates.
Q: Are Contender beans heirloom or hybrid?
A: They are an heirloom variety, developed in the early 20th century from the older Valentine line—one of America’s earliest stringless beans.
Q: How long do Contender beans take to mature?
A: Expect maturity in 50–55 days from direct sowing, making it one of the fastest-maturing bush beans available.
Q: What is the growth habit of Contender beans?
A: Contender is a bush-type bean, growing about 18–24 inches tall. It produces heavy yields of slightly curved, meaty pods around 6 inches long.
Q: How does Contender handle different climates?
A: This variety tolerates both cool and hot weather well, making it suitable for early planting and for regions with unpredictable seasons.
Q: What is the flavor of Contender beans?
A: The pods are tender, crisp, and slightly sweet, with a full-bodied, “old-fashioned” bean flavor that holds up well to cooking.
Q: Can Contender beans be used for freezing or canning?
A: Yes. Their firm texture and uniform pod size make them excellent for both fresh eating and preservation.
Q: Why is it also called Bluff Valentine?
A: Bluff Valentine refers to an earlier name associated with the same genetic line, tracing back to the 19th-century Valentine beans that Contender improved upon.
Q: What’s the ideal growing condition for Contender beans?
A: Plant in full sun and well-drained soil. Keep soil consistently moist during flowering for best yields.
History & Culture — Contender (Bluff Valentine) Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)
The Contender, also known as Bluff Valentine, is one of the classic early-maturing bush beans of the American seed trade. Developed in the early 20th century, it descends from the older Valentine strain—an heirloom noted for its reliability and tenderness in variable growing conditions. The name “Contender” was introduced to highlight its competitive vigor, reflecting its ability to produce well under both heat and cool stress.
The Valentine lineage itself dates back to the late 1800s, when seed breeders began refining regional field beans for uniform growth and stringless pods. By the 1940s, Contender had become one of the most popular home garden beans in the United States, valued for its adaptability and sweet, full flavor even when pods grew large.
Its success lies in its consistent performance and resilience—traits that made it a mainstay for both small farmers and home growers during periods of shifting climate and agricultural modernization. Though many hybrids have since appeared, Contender remains a reliable heirloom standard, rooted in the practical breeding traditions of early American horticulture.
Saving seeds from Contender, Bluff Valentine Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris):
1. Selecting Plants for Seed Saving:
Choose healthy plants with vigorous growth and abundant pods.
Avoid plants showing signs of disease or poor growth.
2. Harvesting Seeds:
Timing: Allow the pods to mature and dry on the plant.
Collection: Harvest the dry pods on a dry day.
3. Drying Seeds:
Place the pods in a well-ventilated, dry area. Allow them to dry completely for one to two weeks.
4. Cleaning Seeds:
Separation: Shell the dry pods to release the seeds.
Inspection: Ensure seeds are clean and free from mold or pests.
5. Storing Seeds:
Containers: Store seeds in labeled paper envelopes or airtight containers.
Storage Conditions: Keep in a cool, dry, and dark place.
Viability: Use seeds within two to three years for best results.
6. Testing Seed Viability:
Test by placing seeds on a damp paper towel in a plastic bag in a warm place and check for germination.
Tips for Successful Seed Saving:
Isolation: Maintain distance between different bean varieties.
Pollinators: Encourage pollinators for better seed production.
Record Keeping: Keep detailed records of the process.
Uses and Benefits:
Contender Bluff Valentine Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) is a productive bush variety known for its early maturity and tender, flavorful pods, ideal for fresh eating, canning, and freezing.
Beans are a nutritious source of protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, supporting overall health. Contender Bluff Valentine Beans are versatile in the kitchen, perfect for steaming, sautéing, and adding to salads and casseroles.
Shipped from U.S.A.
Our seeds are grown and sourced from the US. They're then packed and shipped from Colerain NC.
Triple tested
We regularly test the quality and germination rate of our seeds. We're so confident that our seeds are backed by a 1 year warranty!
Payment & Security
Payment methods
Your payment information is processed securely. We do not store credit card details nor have access to your credit card information.
Join Our Newsletter for Exclusive Savings!
Sign up for our newsletter to get a 30% discount code sent straight to your inbox. If it doesn’t appear right away, please check your inbox settings, and if you still need help, we’re here to assist!
Alliance Of Native Seedkeepers
Bean Seeds - Bush - Contender, Bluff Valentine
$200 USD
Unit price /
Unavailable
Description
A time-tested classic among early bush beans, Contender—also known historically as Bluff Valentine—is valued for its reliability, flavor, and speed to harvest. Plants stand about 18–24 inches tall, producing abundant 6-inch pods that are slightly curved, tender, and stringless when picked young. The beans have a rich, full flavor and firm texture that holds well for both fresh eating and canning.
One of the earliest maturing green beans available, Contender thrives in cool or warm conditions alike, setting pods even through heat stress. Its early yields make it ideal for short growing seasons or successive plantings to ensure a steady supply of fresh beans throughout summer.
Introduced in the early 1940s, Contender remains a favorite for its adaptability and dependable performance—a steadfast heirloom that continues to earn its place in gardens from coast to coast.
