Be sure to check out our Beans Growing Guide for more tips & tricks on successfully growing beans. Contender Bush Bean is a stringless, open-pollinated bush bean variety that produces about a week earlier than most bush bean varieties. Due to its early production, this is a great variety for planting zones with shorter growing seasons. And because it is widely-adapted, it performs great in southern climates as well. Upright plants produce 5-8" pods that are best when harvested around 5-6" long. Contender Bush Bean is the standard variety for canning or freezing. Snap beans or preserve them whole. We recommend canning beans and small potatoes in the same jar for a perfect combination!