yardlong

Yardlong is an informal English term used as an adjective or noun to indicate a length of about one yard (3 feet or 36 inches). It appears in everyday usage to describe long objects, particularly in catalogs and culinary contexts, but it is not a precise measurement in formal writing.

The best-known use of the term is yardlong bean, the edible pods of Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis. These beans are also called Chinese long bean or asparagus bean. In favorable conditions, the pods commonly reach 50 to 75 centimeters, with some varieties approaching a yard in length. The plant is a warm-season climbing vine originating in Asia and is widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions.

Yardlong beans are harvested when pods are tender and before seeds fully mature. They are typically cooked quickly and used in stir-fries, curries, and other Asian dishes, though they can also be steamed or boiled and served with dips. The beans are a source of dietary fiber and plant protein, and mature seeds can be used as pulses.

Although yardlong is primarily associated with yardlong beans, the descriptor sometimes appears in casual descriptions of other long produce, always signaling notable length rather than exact measurement.