Contender
A widely grown, dependable bush variety with pink flowers and round, long, stringless, green pods that snap cleanly. Noted for field tolerance of mosaic virus and powdery mildew.
Quick facts
- Crop
- French Bean
- Type
- Bush type
- Season
- Rabi
- Maturity period
- First pick ~50–55 days
- Seed rate
- 60–80 kg/ha (about 24–32 kg/acre)
- Expected yield
- ~20 t/ha
- Suitable soil
- Loam
About this variety
Contender is a widely grown, dependable bush French bean variety with pink flowers and round, long, stringless, green pods that snap cleanly when tender. It is noted for its field tolerance of both mosaic virus and powdery mildew, two problems that trouble the crop across much of India, which makes it a safe general-purpose choice for growers who want a reliable outcome without needing intensive disease management.
Key characteristics
Sowing & cultivation
- Sowing timeMid-October to November for the plains rabi crop
- Seed rate60–80 kg/ha (about 24–32 kg/acre)
- SpacingRows 30–45 cm apart, plants 8–10 cm apart in the row
Yield & maturity
Maturity period
First pick ~50–55 days
Expected yield
~20 t/ha
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
Pest & disease considerations
Major diseases
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- Field-tolerant of mosaic virus and powdery mildew
- Round, long, stringless pods that snap cleanly
- Dependable, widely available bush variety
Things to consider
- Still needs certified disease-free seed against bacterial blight and anthracnose, which travel in the seed regardless of variety
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Uttar Pradesh
- Punjab
- Karnataka