Chinese Green Noodle

Family: Fabaceae Legume

Tender, ribbonlike pods arrive in a vivid Chinese green that feels almost luminous—crisp at first bite, then gently yielding with a sweet, pea-like savor.

Chinese Green Noodle asparagus beans produce long, slender pods with a smooth, satiny surface and a satisfying snap, ideal for showcasing their delicate flavor in fresh preparations and quick stir-fry style favorites. Grow for abundant, repeat harvests around 60 days, and enjoy the way each new picking keeps the garden’s green “noodles” coming.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 60 DaysHabit: Clumping

Botanical illustration of Chinese Green Noodle

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Direct Sow
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 25th
Harvest Begins	Jun 24th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	60
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Clumping
Support Needed	Trellis
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	65
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

These long, smooth pods are all about the snap—hit them hard and fast in the wok or blanch briefly so they keep that crisp-to-gentle-yielding texture. Their naturally sweet, pea-forward taste loves salty soy, pungent aromatics, and the perfume of sesame without needing heavy sauces.

Best Uses

quick stir-fry where they stay crisp and green
blanch-and-shock salad ribbons dressed lightly so they don’t go dull
garlic-ginger sauté to highlight their clean, bean-sweet finish
wok-style with soy and a touch of sesame oil for glossy, fast-cooked pods

Flavor Profile

sweet, pea-like savor fresh vegetal snap tender, satin-tasting chew

Kitchen Pairings

garlic ginger soy sauce sesame oil chili crisp scallions

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s a common problem for Vigna sesquipedalis (Chinese green noodle/asparagus bean) and how do I control it?

A frequent issue is aphids, which cluster on young stems and leaf undersides and can leave plants sticky while slowing growth. Spray affected tips with a strong jet of water first, then apply insecticidal soap (especially under leaves) and repeat every 5–7 days until they stop returning. Keep weeds down because they reduce airflow and harbor pests between harvests.

How often should I water Vigna sesquipedalis during its main growing phase?

During pod set and rapid growth (roughly weeks 3–8), keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged—water when the top 1 inch starts to dry. Aim for deep watering that soaks the root zone, because asparagus beans form pods best under consistent moisture. Inconsistent watering leads to thinner, tougher pods, so don’t let the soil swing from dry to soggy.

How can I tell when Chinese green noodle (Vigna sesquipedalis) pods are ready to harvest?

Harvest when pods are long and still tender—typically about 18–24 inches long and pencil-to-finger thickness, around 60 days from sowing. If you can snap a pod easily and the seeds inside are not visibly bulging, it’s ready; if pods feel chewy or bulge with larger seeds, pick immediately or they’ll toughen. Pick every 1–2 days at peak production to keep new pods forming.