Bean ‘Contender’

Photographs of this planting through the 2026 season, oldest first.

The photographs

A seed coming apart on 28 July, its glossy orange-tan coat split and peeled back off a thick folded mass of yellow-green seed leaf still half sheathed inside, a scrap of the coat shed alongside, the whole thing almost glowing against near-black bark.
Week of 27 JulyA seed coming apart on 28 July, its glossy orange-tan coat split and peeled back off a thick folded mass of yellow-green seed leaf still half sheathed inside, a scrap of the coat shed alongside, the whole thing almost glowing against near-black bark.
Contender beans on 30 July, a dozen widely spaced with the dried cotyledon scales still clinging at the node under each pair of puckered heart-shaped leaves and a new shoot already rising between them, clover pushing in along both edges under flat cloud.
Week of 27 JulyContender beans on 30 July, a dozen widely spaced with the dried cotyledon scales still clinging at the node under each pair of puckered heart-shaped leaves and a new shoot already rising between them, clover pushing in along both edges under flat cloud.
Contender beans on 2 September, two blooms open on one stalk in lilac-pink and deeper mauve with a paler cream wing on the nearer, a third faded to blush beside them and pale buds clustered all around under broad heart-shaped leaves.
Week of 31 AugustContender beans on 2 September, two blooms open on one stalk in lilac-pink and deeper mauve with a paler cream wing on the nearer, a third faded to blush beside them and pale buds clustered all around under broad heart-shaped leaves.
Contender bush beans on 11 September, six or so pods in a loose bundle with a darker green suture running the length of each dorsal edge and hooked style-beaks still on the blossom ends. Warm dim indoor light on crumpled white cotton.
Week of 7 SeptemberContender bush beans on 11 September, six or so pods in a loose bundle with a darker green suture running the length of each dorsal edge and hooked style-beaks still on the blossom ends. Warm dim indoor light on crumpled white cotton.

What it gave

First harvest
11 September 2026
Number picked
60
Total picked
0.57 lb

What happened

Crop
Bean
Variety
Contender
Sown
21 July 2026
Germinated
31 July 2026
Status
ended

All the pictures · The season