No garden is complete without these easy to grow and prolific garden vegetables. I love the pole sorts best climbing on my bamboo teepees and fences. These members of the legume family also have the added benefit of the ability to enrich the soil.
The joy of fresh sweet garden peas is my favorite longed for treat of the entire gardening year. Thomas Jefferson's favorite vegetable was the pea, and he had a long running contest with his other farming neighbors for the first peas of the season. The contest started in 1757 and went on nearly every year into the early 1800's. Despite growing over 30 or more types of peas, he lost the contest each and every year! The fabulous purple colored Blue Capucijner peas are on my website banner on every page, and are my personal favorites for beauty. Plus you never have to wait too long to enjoy the first beans or fresh sweet limas of the season, as well.
I wish to thank my friend Cliff, who has a large ranch in Idaho, (the perfect bean growing state in the United States, where virtually every commercial variety of bean is grown for seed). He has helped me to increase the amounts of my unusual and rare beans that I offer for sale. He grows many of my own beans on his ranch using sustainable methods. His help allows me to provide extra rare and nearly extinct bean seed to my fellow gardeners. I also grow the very same rare bean varieties simultaneously in Amishland, but due to limited space, in smaller quantities.
All seed packs are $2.50 each
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NEW FOR 2012!~ VELOUR DWARF PURPLE FRENCH BEAN bush~ Perfect for Containers! (matures in 55 days in Idaho) Velour's pods are a glowing purple color, almost electric! And the succulent taste is even better than its royal purple beauty. A real gourmet treat from France, where they have the highest standards for snap type filet beans. This is a true miniature plant with round pods 1 inch in diameter that grow 5-6 inches long. They bear heavily for such a small plant all season long. These purple lovelies are great in storage as they freeze well. And of course the sublime flavor is perfect sauteed or lightly steamed. Needless to say, they are absolutely stringless as well.
My wonderful rancher friend, Cliff , grew these gorgeous beans out for me in Idaho where he had a perfect growing season for 2011. (unlike here in Amishland where we had an unseasonably wet and cold spring, then a hot drought -ridden summer, followed by fall flooding). He also took the great photo showing their glowing beauty.
All you gardeners with limited space who are unable to grow except in containers will be thrilled with this new French wonder. It only grows 15 inches tall! All I can say is "ooh la la, Vive la France!" 10 fresh sustainably grown bean seeds.
NEW FOR 2012!~ ELDON KINGHORN WAX BEAN Scarce! My wonderful rancher friend, Cliff, who farms in Idaho, grew out these Wax (yellow sort) beans for me. Cliff says that wax beans are being dropped by nearly all the seed houses and are geting very difficult to find. Here, in his own words, in quotes, is what he says about this historic bean:
"24 inch tall, 55 day, bush bean. White flower, pale green filet, in early stages, turn a straw yellow as they mature. 5-7 inches, round pod, stays tender longer than most beans, excellent as a snap bean,was the wax bean of choice by Bird's Eye Foods, for both canning and freezing in the 1960's.
Eldon Kinghorn, an Idaho native, was born in Rigby, Idaho in 1905 (d.1973), was working for Wilford Seed Co, of Basin, Wyoming, when he developed this wax bean line in late 40s to early 1950s. Wilford Seed was an affiliate of Woodruff Seed Co. of Orange, Conn. ,and he was employed with Woodruff until 1958, when the company sold to Asgrow Seed. (woodruff was embroiled in a costly
lawsuit, lost, and then lost again on appeal, name drug thru mud, company sold to asgrow after they lost the appeal, my research here is a point of interest, not germain to seed listing!)"
(note from Lisa: I think all history is important in telling the stories behind the seeds. )
"Story goes that the first bushel of Kinghorn Wax Beans, was given to Bird's Eye to try, & they loved the bean. 1970's, seed sold mostly
by Gurneys."
Now this bean is nearly impossible to find, but you can get it here, and enjoy that mild, sweet taste that wax beans are known for. This photo is also taken by Cliff. 10 fresh sustainably grown bean seeds.
BACK FOR 2012!~ HOMER NELSON FAMILY PINK TIP HALF RUNNER BEAN ~ONLY USA SOURCE~ This fabulous, super rare, triple use (snap, shelly, dry) type bush bean is a sure winner. It has a good bean to foliage ratio of 1:2. It only grows 12-15 inches tall, but it spreads 1 to 1-1/2 feet in each direction. This is a rare family heirloom, 3 generations deep from Pounding Mill, Tazewell County, Virginia, which is in the western foothills of the Appalachian Mts, (the Great Valley of VA.) The pods are green in snap stage, and then turn pink after the snap stage. The seed is shiny chestnut brown color. This is an old favorite in the south as a snap, shelly and dry bean. The Homer Nelson family where the bean came from said, "This is the real McCoy when it comes to Pink Tip Half Runner Bean." My seed stock was sustainabley grown for me by my dear friend, Cliff, in Idaho. He says "Yields better, happier on a trellis, truly old fashioned variety, good snap in early stages". To the best of my knowledge, I am the only commercial source of this rare family heirloom bean. Due the high demand and low stock this year, the seed per pack amount is5 fresh sustainably grown bean seeds.
NEW FOR 2012!~ MRS MAROTTI'S BUSH ROMANO BEAN VERY limited amount of seed~ VERY RARE~ORDER EARLY Here is another of Cliff's rare beans he grew for me. Here, in quotes, in his own words, is the history from his extensive research:
"70-80 days, 20 inches high, roundish pod not flat like most romanos, shiny, round midnight blue seed. Very tasty as a cooked bean, (steamed them whole, not snapped). Canada lists bean as endangered. I assume that this is also a Canadian bean. Mrs. Marotti emigrated from Sicily over 80 years ago, and brought her favorite bean seed to her new world location.
I can not find any other info, after an extensive web search. Heirloom romano beans are very hard to find, as most have lost their identity over the years. (I have been searching for more heirloom romano's, and as of yet, have not found very many). As bean starts to dry, pods have very light red streaks. Flower is white.Sets beans all at once, so it is a one shot crop bean .we need to spread this bean into as many hands as possible." 5 fresh sustainably grown bean seeds per pack due to rarity.
NEW FOR 2012!~ GOLDEN SUNSHINE RUNNER BEAN~ Here is a great new to the USA ,runner bean grown for me by my "beany" friend, Cliff. here in his own words is what he had to say:
"Scarlet flowers, unique because foliage is a light green-yellow-golden color, instead of the usual dark green runner bean leaves. Pole bean, 5-6 foot trellis, produces a dense heavy mat of golden yellow foliage, late spring to summer, does not begin to flower until late summer, early fall. Bred and developed in Europe, is a newer variety of runner bean, that to date has limited distribution in the USA." 10 fresh huge sustainably grown bean seeds.
NEW FOR 2012!~ DESIREE HEIRLOOM RUNNER BEAN~ This runner bean ws grown for me by my "beany" freind Cliff in Idaho. Here, in his own words, is what he had to say:
"An old english variety, been around for a long time. White Blooms, pods 12-15 inches long in clusters of 4-5 pods. Naturalized to various USA climates, does better in hot and dry conditions than most other runner beans. White seed."
I like to use white flowers for a "moon garden" as they glow in the dark after sunset. This is one of the only vining whites I use. 10 huge, fresh sustainably grown bean seeds.
NEW FOR 2012!~ SADIE'S HORSE BEAN - RUNNER BEAN TYPE~ (Phaseolus coccineus ~A member of the Leguminosae, or legume family)~ SUPER RARE !~ One of 2 USA Sources~Limited Quantities~ Order Early!~ I grew these many years ago and now thanks to the help of my "beany" friend, Cliff, I will be able to offer it again in very limited quantities. Cliff adores runner beans which grow so well for him on his Idaho ranch. He sent me these seeds from this season. Here, in his own words, are what he had to say:
"100 yr old variety. All runner beans were native to the Americas, were taken to Europe in early 1800's. So they all came from here, and not from Europe as most people think.... blossom colors, orange/white, white, scarlet, some pink and salmon. This variety of Sadies does very well on my farm, better than any other runner bean so it should work well anywhere in the USA."
Like all runner beans, they are vigorous climbers and can shoot up to 10 feet or more. Not much history on these, although it was said to have been grown by the same family for over 100 years. These are exceptionally large beans that are startlingly lovely. They really must be seen to be believed and are a mix of colors including pink mottled, black, lavender, but this year are mostly mottled brown with tan. The pods, needless to say, are huge to contain such large beans, and can grow up over a foot long. Cliff apologizes for not getting a photo. Due to demand for this rare runner bean , there is a limit of 3 packs each.
5 of my own fresh organically grown seeds.
NEW FOR 2012!~ OLD TENNESSEE RED PEANUT BEAN~ RARE~Hard to Find Heirloom~Limited Quantities~ Order Early! This old fashioned bean is what is called a half or 1/2 runner. It was grown for me by my "beany" friend Cliff in Idaho. This is what he says in his own words: "does not grow into trellis, but does climb. Think a 45 degree slant trellis might work best. Perfectly straight pods, 6-7 inches long. 55 days to snap. Pods turn red when mature at about 85 days, seed is light pink. Traditional mid-south bean that is difficult to find, outside of mid -south. This is a totally different bean than the pink tip 1/2 runner listed last year. Heavy pod setter, bean to foliage ratio 1:1". It is called a peanut bean because the dry beans when cooked are supposed to taste like peanuts! Limited Quantities~ Order Early! 10 fresh sustainably grown bean seeds.
NEW FOR 2012!~ GRANDMA BITTICK'S HAMBONE BEAN~ Limited supplies~Order Early~ Bush soldier bean type. Here is another of Cliff's special finds. he said that is was a cooking soup bean from a New England family of German potters . They lived in St. Louis , MO after the turn of the century.This bean has been raised in the family for 6 generations. It is a favorite dried bean cooked with a hambone, hence its name. Soldier bean have a dark burgundy/black spot on the helium that looks like the figure of a soldier This was a bean raised for me by my good friend Cliff in Idaho. 10 sustainably grown bean seeds.
NEW FOR 2012!~ WHITE SETTLER BUSH BEAN aka COVELO RESERVATION BEAN One of 2 SOURCES IN USA~ Rare and Endangered Variety ~Very Limited Quantities~Order Early!~ Here is another great rare bean grown for me by Cliff in Idaho. Here, in his own words, is what he says: "from Humbolt County, CA. Bush filet, 15-20 inches, does best in hot dry climates, excellent snap & dry bean. Covelo is indian reservation in northern CA, where the bean was found by an organic farmer named Chris Balz. He had the bean researched at U of CA, Davis campus, and it did not correlate with any known beans in their collection. RARE/ENDANGERED BEAN." I was also able to find a bit more information on this little bean. Although beans are a new world crop they actually weren't grown in Northern California until after the "white settlers" (ie Europeans) came. These roundish, shiny brown beans come from the Covelo Reservation in California's Round Valley. Therefore, on the reservation they came to be called "white settler bean". No one knows the actual travel route these beans made. Perhaps they came directly from Mexico or maybe they made their way to Europe and then travelled back with the Italian farmers who came to farm this small valley. But they were carefully saved and preserved all these years. And now, thanks to Cliff, you can grow a piece of this rare California history. Due to their endangered status only 3 packs per customer please (and do try and perpetuate these please!) 5 fresh sustainably grown bean seeds.
MOSAIC YARD LONG BEAN - (Vigna unguiculata) My friend Cliff, in Idaho, raised this bean for me. I just plain don't have the room for this prolific producer in my own gardens. So Cliff does me the huge favor of growing this for me. Oriental long beans such as this aren't true beans, they are the same family where we get cowpeas, black eyed peas or field peas. But we eat them like beans so that is what the name says. Mosaic Yard long Bean is called mosaic because of the gorgeous 13 to 15 inch long pods which are mottled in colors of purple, red and green. This is a very ornamental plant, with flowers that are a snow white with shades of blue. There are these purple/red "threads" that extend on the petals close to the blooms. In Idaho, Cliff says the growing to bean stage is 55-60 days, which may differ according to where you live. That is why I don't like to give days to maturity, since there is so much varience due to geography. Cliff says they produce beans until frost. Cliff is also very scientifc and loves to give the bean to leaf ratio on all his beans. He says these are 1:1 foliage to pod ratio. These are such fun to grow and they grow so fast you can almost see them getting longer. Kids love them!
10 fresh sustainably grown beans.
LAZY WIFE BEAN aka LAZY HOUSEWIFE BEAN- Pole Bean - This is an old bean intoduced by German immigrants in the United States about 1810. It is one of our oldest beans to be documented. It got its name because it was one of the first beans to be "stringless", a real boon to the busy housewives of the day. It is very prolific and sets its beans in clusters that are easy to pick, another "lazy" thing that makes it great. The Lazy Housewife is rather a late season pole bean but it is well worth the wait. Picked young, the bean pods are of a delicate texture and brittle, making for a swell snap. The flavor is consistantly fine both from early to late season. Burpee's 1888 catalog had this to say about the Lazywife Bean: "...they are broad, thick, very fleshy and entirely stringless! Many persons have testified that they never ate a bean quite so good in distinct rich flavor." Also makes a great "shelly" bean if ripened a bit longer. The pods are 5-6 inches long and straight. It also makes a great dry or "winter" bean. The locals here used to make "leather britches" out of late beans by stringing them and letting them dry over the mantle of the fireplace. Then they would keep pretty much all winter. Lovely shiny pure white beans. Sorry, the fall sunshine didn't do justice to their beauty when I photographed them in the bowl.
10 of my own fresh organically grown bean seeds.
HUTTERITE SOUP BEAN SEED AMOUNTS PER PACK INCREASED FOR 2012! The Hutterites were an Anabaptist break-away group established in Moravia under the leadership of Jakob Hutter in 1529. In 1874, a colony of Hutterites emigrated to the United States from Russia, fleeing religious in-fighting and external persecution. But, I have also seen it written that they emigrated here earlier from Austria in the 1760s. Colonies of the communal living Hutterites still live in South Dakota today, but more than 75% live in Western Canada. There is still some confusion on the time period that the Hutterites settled in the New world however and their history in Europe .The Hutterites brought these seeds that they knew how to grow and that they knew would sustain them. The heirloom Hutterite Soup Bean is considered one of the best soup beans ever because it quickly cooks (only 20 minutes if soaked overnight first) to make the most delicious soup that is just naturally thick and creamy. When cooked you won't even need to add cream or butter, but that is what it tastes like. They are probably the most "fragrant" bean seed you will ever find, making a truly wonderful creamy white soup. Hutterite Soup Beans grow on short bushes only 24 -30 inches tall and mature quickly in approximately 80-85 days. They are way compact and highly prolific. Unlike most beans, you can plant these in early spring as early as possible after the last expected hard frost. Therefore all you gardeners in colder regions can really get a jump on the season. These beans are a lovely greenish tan color unlike any other bean I have ever seen, and resemble black eyed peas because of their black helium (spot).
Seed quantity increased for 2012 due to a great growing season. Now 20 of my own fresh organically grown bean seeds.
BACK FOR 2012~ SWISS LANDFRAUEN type POLE BEAN Please try the nearly identical WEINLANDERIN POLE BEAN - SWISS HEIRLOOM ~ONLY US SEED SOURCE!~ VERY LIMITED QUANTITY-first come first served!~ limit of 3 packs only please~ This is my absolutely favorite snap bean for taste, bar none. No other snap bean even comes close! I used to carry this when I first started Amishland Heirloom Seeds and have been unable to grow enough seeds to resell for several years now. I still get phone calls, emails and letters from all over requesting this bean. To my knowledge I am the only commercial seed source of the bean in the USA. These beans were increased by my "beany" friend Cliff in Idaho. I asked him to help me to get this bean back for sale by growing it in a larger quantity than I am able to. Cliff is a godsend and sent me his stock for you. He calls it Swiss Landfrauen Type pole bean. Cliff has this to say about this bean in his own words: "6 to 8 foot trellis, 1:1 bean to foliage ratio. European horticultural type of bean, most flavorful, best tasting of all pole beans that I have raised. Bears heavy concentrated clumps of pods, 7 to 9 inches long per pod. Violet blue blossom. Some pods can be almost totally purple/red with little green pod showing. After raising this variety for over six years, planting seed from the near purple/red pods results in normal mottled colored pods. Seed is not mixed up, this is common with this type of bean, some pods have more color than others. The same occurs in the Weinlanderin Pole Bean. Aggressive grower, outgrew many other pole beans planted the same day in very similar soil... this is the best tasting of all pole beans I have raised!" And believe me, Cliff has raised a lot of different Pole beans. So, I am very pleased to say that I can offer this super rare bean again this year. DUE TO DEMAND AND LIMITED QUANTITY - ONLY 5 SEEDS PER PACK.
STORTINO DI TRENTO MARBLED ANELLINO POLE BEAN - RARE!!! This just may be the most beautiful snap type eating bean in the world! The name translates from Italian as "Curved from Trent Marmorizzato (marbled) Shrimp" pole bean. The shrimp part is obvious, look at that curled shape. Gorgeous reddish purple mottling, speckles or stripes are all over the green beans. They grow on very long, strong, vigorous vines. The 6 to 9 foot vines "attacked" my nearby tomatoes! I have never seen such lovely snap beans, and I have grown several other purple and striped sorts but these beautiesbeat them all in looks. And the taste! Remember the Italians value the taste more than anything in their vegetables, and this heirloom has remained in production for all these years exactly for that reason. An old Italian heirloom pole sort that has just been rediscovered. I consider myself very lucky to be one of the very few who has acquired these rare beans and grown them here in the USA to offer to you. They did splendidly here in my zone 6A garden, and I imagine will just about anywhere else, as they were so prolific as well as hardy. They didn't die off until hard frost in November. Lovely ornamental purple blossoms as well. Pretty enough to grow on a fence in a flower garden. I had mine growing intertwined with purple "Grandpa Otts Morning Glories" and red Italian sunflowers. You will adore these beans, for beauty and fabulous taste. The seeds are also beautiful, striped with cream and burgundy purple markings. Many thanks to my friend Cliff in Idaho who also helped so much by growing more of these beans sustainably for me. That way I would have enough beans to offer to you in the first year of American growing.
10+ of my own fresh organically grown seeds.
EVA'S "BIRDIE" BEAN -(BUSH SHELLING TYPE) -EXCLUSIVE~Pennsylvania Family HEIRLOOM -
- Eva was my very dear local Pennsylvania Dutch (aka Pennsylvania German) farm lady friend. She passed away at 89 years old this year in mid sentence asking her son about how big were his fish on his latest fishing trip. That's the way to go! I miss her so much! I go to her grave now and talk to her about how her gardens and mine have been doing. She put in a several acre vegetable garden all by herself each year and had been saving her family's heirloom seeds all her life. Her family is still farming in the same fertile valley here in Lancaster County PA as they have for over 5 generations! They still have several farms all adjoining each other. Her son Jerry, still farms right down the lane from her house, and they rent out another of her farms next door to a dairy farmer.
This was one of Eva's personal favorite beans. She calls them "Birdie Beans" since they resemble speckled wild bird eggs. They are her own local sub-variety of an old time horticultural bean eaten in the " shelly" stage (like the way we usually eat lima beans.) Sweet and pretty, the beans are pinkish white with speckles and streaks of red. They tend to change color each year a bit according to the weather that year and this year's crop were more brownish with brown red streaks. The pods are a gorgeous buff with cerise red streaks, very ornamental and not unlike my "Heirloom Pole Bean" in coloration. But these are a bush bean which sometimes throws out runners. You can cram alot of these plants in a very small space. Very disease resistant as well, and obviously quite acclimated to our Zone 6A area. These beans freeze or can nicely, but the best way to save them is to leave them to dry on the plant. Try these "shellies" in Italian or French cuisine, where fresh beans are called for. Eva's liked to make her pickled 3 bean salad using these as one of the beans. She also made the PA Dutch relish called "chow-chow" using these as one of the ingredients as well. Try growing them the Pennsylvania Dutch way, planting them on "Bean Day," which is June 3 if you live in the same or similar growing zone. Planting beans too early only encourages bugs to come in sooner. Eva was a firm believer in planting by the moon cycles as well, and her gardens were the most prolific I have ever seen. I was still learning such tricks and techniques from her each time I visited her.
10 of my own fresh organically grown bean seeds.
AMISH GNUDDEL BEAN - NOTE: This is sometimes spelled Knuddel, Knuttle, or Gnuttle Bean. (In Pennsylvania Dutch there are many variations in spelling as this is really only a spoken language) ~ RARE - Hard To Find
This is a very old Amish heirloom bean. It is what is called a "cutshort" because all the beans are squished in the pod so tightly that they have square sides. It dates back to the early 1800's. The Amish use this as a dry bean for rich stew soups that they serve after their Sunday services to their whole congregation which meets in a local home each week. This is an important bean in their culture and in their meals. It is a half runner bean, not quite as tall as a pole bean but it throws out runners that twine around whatever is available, so the Amish often grow it with corn. It grows about 5-6 feet tall, with short pods. It is a late season bean and takes about 90 days here in Amish country, or early September in my zone 6A garden. 10 of my own fresh organically grown seeds
PURPLE PODDED POLE BEAN MIX ~ Very Limited Quantities ~Order Early~This bean mix is the brainchild of my friend Cliff in Idaho who grows out a lot of my beans for me. He felt people would like a mixture of some of the rarer purple pole beans that we can't offer as single varieties since we don't have that quantity of any given kind. He wanted my customers to be able to experience these beauties too. So this mix contains short, mid and long season varieties. You will need a 6-8 foot trellis to grow them properly. With this mix, the beans should bear throughout the season. Includes Dow, Purple Peacock, Purple Podded/Purple Leaf, Purple Marconi, and Trionfo Violetta pole beans. But not necessarily all of these as this is an all mixed-up variety. The photo is only of the Trionfo Violetta but it is typical of the look of all of the pretty purple types. I do however offer the Purple Marconi and the Violetta as single varieties on this page. 10 fresh sustainably grown seeds
BACK FOR 2012!~ MRS. WALLACE'S CASEKNIFE BEAN- EXCLUSIVE~ ONLY USA SEED SOURCE! Here is another of bean I got from years ago from Mr. Benjamin Judd of Sparta, TN. He wrote, in that old fashioned way: "this is what the colored people call caseknife bean." Caseknife refers to the odd shape of the pods. This is a very old term for this kind of bean. They are flattened on one edge and curved on the other side of the pod. I have never grown so prolific of a producer. It is also, far and above, the tallest true bean vine I have ever seen. Mine have reached 15 to 20 plus feet yearly! I grew them on long 12-foot bamboo poles and the bean went all the way up and then all the way down the pole! This is a bean more suited to eat in the "shelly" stage (eat like fresh limas) or as a dry bean. The green pods, like many old fashioned sorts, have strings. Grow a piece of history with this bean. Caseknife beans date back to the 1700's in the United states, and Thomas Jefferson grew several sorts. The dried beans themselves are speckled and have an odd spoon shape. To the best of my knowledge, I am the only source of this particular bean.
10 fresh organically raised beans.
BACK AGAIN FOR 2012! ~ EVA'S CHOW CHOW BEANS - ~ 150 YEAR OLD PA HEIRLOOM ~EXCLUSIVE~ Eva passed away at 89 years old 6 summers ago. I will miss her so much more than I can say. She taught me so very much about gardening and shared so many of her family's seeds with me. Among others, she gave me these beans that have been grown by her Pennsylvania German family for 5 generations on their local family farm in Schoeneck (translates from the Pennsylvania Dutch dialect as "beautiful corner") Pennsylvania. Small, prolific bush type bean plants. They don't get very tall and the bean pods are so long they almost hit the ground. They are white color with a burgundy "eye" on the helix. Good in the green snap stage (Eva used them in the family's "chow chow" relish along with other beans, and corn.) Please see my recipe page for a traditional PA Dutch Chow Chow recipe. (And more traditional chow chow recipes are to come.) They are also good dried in the pod and used a dry/baking/cooking bean. Very resistant to bugs and disease! I am the exclusive source for these particular strain old heirloom beans. 10 of my own fresh organically grown bean seeds.
POTOMAC POLE BEAN ~SCARCE~This is a great heirloom bean dating from the Virginia side of the Potomac River before 1860. After the Civil War it was carried west by the Barley family to Tehama County, California, where it has been grown for over 125 years. It produced long slender green pods, about 6 1/2 inches long which were slightly curved. These had excellent quality and flavor beans. The plants had a 1:1 beans to foliage ratio. It produced vigorously and heavily. It grew on an 8 foot trellis, but most beans were at the 4-6 foot level. It produced well in the hot dry Idaho summer, but would really probably prefer a cooler/moister climate. It germinates well in cool soil and yields well in cool season areas. The seeds are a dark purple-black color, about 5/8-inch long and slightly flattened in shape. The huge trifoliate leaves grew 6-10" across. I grew up near the water in Maryland and Virginia. I actually to my knowledge never had this exact bean but I may have eaten it as a child without knowing it. I sure hope I did. Seed stock this year was grown sustainably by my good friend Cliff in Idaho. The photos for this bean are also taken by Cliff. 10 fresh sustainably grown seeds
RUTH BIBLE POLE BEAN ~SCARCE~This family heirloom bean is from the Buoys family in Kentucky and dates back to 1832. The vines are quite long and bear heavily. The large pods, like many old time beans, may have slight strings. These are much better when tender and small about 3-4 inches. This year, our first, they grew on a 10 foot trellis. They have a 1:1 beans to foliage ratio. Bean pods are light green in color. Most of the pods were 3-5 inches containing brownish-tan seeds. 63-65 days. This is a great "old timey” bean that produces all season. It is a drought resistant “cornfield type" pole bean. Seed stock this year was grown sustainably by my good friend Cliff in Idaho. The photos for this bean are also taken by Cliff.
10 fresh sustainably grown seeds
SOUTHERN WILLOW-LEAVED LIMA aka WILLOW LEAF LIMA ~SCARCE~ (86-90 days in Idaho) I am pleased to re-offer this rare Lima bean again after an absence of several years. Unfortunately, this was the least productive of the Limas that my friend Cliff in Idaho grew out for me this summer. He felt the climate there might be wrong. This is the correct name according to WW Tracy, American Garden Bean Varieties.I have had this gorgeous and tropical looking plant top out over 15 to 20 feet in a hot Pennsylvania summer in my zone 6A garden, but for Cliff it was only grew about 10 ft. It bears in the mid to top portion of the trellis. Cliff reports that the bean to foliage ratio is 1:3.
It has great heat and drought resistance due to the odd but ornamental shape of the leaves. It obviously does best in the warm coastal areas and the south. (and not Idaho!) Willow Leafed Lima is reportedly a sport of "Sieva” lima beans released by W Atlee Burpee in 1891. The pods are 3 inches long and contain 2-3 chalky white small beans. The photos for this bean are also taken by Cliff. 10 fresh sustainably grown seeds
WORCESTER INDIAN RED POLE LIMA~aka Peruvian Lima ~SCARCE~ Very Limited Quantities~ Order Early~ (75 days in Idaho) This was another great lima bean sustainably grown for me by my dear friend, Cliff, in Idaho. It was originally ground into flour by Native Americans, or served with red corn. In the south slaves originally cooked this with brown Goober peas (a close relative of the peanut) and red sweet potatoes for a variation of FuFu, African mashed dumplings. Cliff said he could not find this in the " Bean Bible”: American Garden Bean Varieties, 1907 by WW Tracy. He feels that it must have not been of commercial value at that time. Tracy states that the number of varieties of limas was huge in the 1820s, but many disappeared, with most of production at 1907 in southern states or California. Cliff said that the beans to foliage ratio is 1:1. He found it most productive and grew his on a 10 foot trellis, and said it bears all the way up the trellis. He also notes it does have wild traits; pods do open when they are dry. This trait is called “shattering". There are 3-4 seeds per pod and they are a beautiful deep, nearly purple red color. Sorry, Cliff said his photo isn't the best. The photos for this bean are also taken by Cliff. 10 fresh sustainably grown seeds
WEINLANDERIN POLE BEAN - SWISS HEIRLOOM - 65 DAYS~LIMITED QUANTITY-ORDER EARLY! I am now selling again for 2012 the elusive purple speckled "Landfrauen" Swiss heirloom pole bean, perhaps the best tasting snap bean ever. I am listed as the only commercial source of this bean in the Sixth (2004 -last published-) edition of the Garden Seed Inventory. but I won't have a very large seed supply to sell this year and expect to sell out early. However, in a search for a close facsimile, I found seeds to the "Weinlanderin," another super Swiss heirloom pole bean. "Weinlanderin" translates as "maid of the wine country." I am pleased to report that these were almost as wonderful as the "Landfrauen" They won hands down, in all of Cliff's bean taste tests this season Just fabulous flavor and aroma, so lacking in beans these days. Pale green stringless pods have lovely purple mottling or streaks. They sometimes have fully purple pods, not a sign of crossing but just its growth habit. They will grow 7-9 inches long, but are best eaten slightly smaller at 5-6 inches. They have that indescribable European Mountain bean flavor. These are also a multi-purpose bean and can be served fresh or dried, and they freeze well too. My friend Cliff in Idaho grew the seed beans sustainably for me. He noted that the ratio of bean to foliage is 1 to 1. Cliff took this beautiful photo as well. I have a limited quantity of this rare heirloom bean, so be sure to order early. 10 fresh sustainably grown bean seeds.
OLD HOMESTEAD POLE BEAN aka "Kentucky Wonder" and "Texas Pole" 65 days -If you only grow one snap bean this season, this old timer is the one to plant. It has lots of history, and an enduring following with good reason- flavor. An heirloom prized by homesteaders in the mid 1800's this bean has never lost its popularity. It was first mentioned in The Country Gentleman Magazine in 1864 as "Texas Pole Bean." Then in 1877 it was reintroduced by James J.H. Gregory and Sons of Marblehead MA as "Kentucky Wonder." Old timers refer to it also as "Old Homestead." The meaty 7-10 inch pods remain very tender when cooked while maintaining its famous nutty flavor. This is a great snap bean for freezing as well. Pole beans are perfect for the small garden as they grow upward in very little space on a teepee or a trellis of poles preferrably with the bark left on so they can climb vigorously. If you have been looking at any seed catalogues lately, you will see fewer and fewer pole beans being offered for sale. My "Beany" friend, Cliff, who farms in Idaho, the #1 bean state for bean seed growing, explained one of the reasons why. He said that the bean combines (machinery for harvesting large quantities of beans) are developed for bush beans. So they get all tangled up when they go into pole bean fields, and break down. Therefore, the larger seed farmers no longer want to grow the pole types. My seeds this year were sustainably grown by my "beany" friend, Cliff, on his farm in Idaho. My awful cold and drought ridden summer here in Amishland precluded me having enough seeds for you, so Cliff helped out.
10 fresh sustainably grown bean seeds.
CASCADE GIANT POLE SNAP BEAN -(55-60 days)- Open Pollinated- LAST CHANCE ! ~ LIMITED QUANTITIES~ Order Early This is just the most beautiful Pole bean! My "beany" friend, Cliff in Idaho, grew these beans for me. The straight pods are a mottled purple over dark green. Very early for a pole bean, the earliest I have ever offered. And for a pole bean it is rather managable in size as it sets its crop mostly in the first 3 feet. The lovely pods grow 7 to 10 inches but are best eaten at 5 to 6 inches. They have a mild beany flavor. The seeds, according to Cliff, are one seed per inch in the pod. It was bred from the Oregon Giant Pole Bean in the cool, moist Williamette Valley of Oregon State. It will produce best under the cool moist conditions, but still is very productive in a hotter, dry climate like Idaho. this is just a wonderful, pretty bean ideal for the home gardener and is also great for canning. Cliff says the ratio of foliage to bean production is 1 to 1. This beautiful photo was taken by Cliff also. Cliff won't be raising this bean any longer in order to have more time for his bean breeding work.
10 fresh sustainably grown bean seeds.
PURPLE ITALIAN MARCONI STRINGLESS POLE BEANS- SCARCE~LIMITED QUANTITIES ORDER EARLY~
Just in from Italy, a fabulous violet purple Italian pole bean. I was so pleased with these pole snap beans. Vigorous and growing on strong vines up to 8 feet, these are just too beautiful to eat! These were grown on a trellis but they got so big and strong we had to attach an "addition" onto the fence holding up the trellis. They are very ornamental and lovely. The "Purple Marconi Pole Beans" have flat 5-7 inch long pods that turn green when blanched, but the color can be maintained if steam blanched for under 2 minutes. These have a sweet but hearty taste, and are best picked young.Another edible ornamental for your garden, try them raw with crudites for their gorgeous color. Pretty early for a pole sort at 67 days to maturity. The color of the pods makes for fast harvesting and makes it so easy for kids, who love to pick them and then watch them turn a bright green color when they are cooked.The kids will eat their veggies now! A rare beauty! My special thanks to my friend Cliff who acquired and grew out these wonderful beans for me on his ranch in Idaho.Cliff grows all his beans sustainably, without pesticides. The lovely photo is also taken by Cliff on location. 10 fresh sustainably grown bean seeds.
BACK AGAIN FOR 2012! GRANDMA NELLIE'S YELLOW PODDED MUSHROOM POLE BEAN ~now considered an ENDANGERED BEAN~ This was another great bean sustainably grown for me by my dear friend, Cliff, in Idaho. Here is what he said about this rare bean in his own words:
“60-65 DAYS, uses 6-7 foot trellis, 1:1 bean to foliage, not super productive, but bears all season long. Has wild trait, pods open when dry. (Note from Lisa- this is called "shattering" in botanical parlance.) Very old variety has a white flower, as most beans did in early 1900s (according to Cliff's favorite, WW Tracy's book American Garden Bean Varieties 1907). Pods are very coarse, (note from Lisa- perhaps try them less than
5-inch long?) not a snap, rather a shelly, or dry bean. The pods are light yellow or wax type."
This year Cliff sent me new information on this rare bean and here is what he found:
"The Nellie bean is thought to have originally been a Russian heirloom bean, it was given to Nellie Chernoff, of Kamsack, Saskatchewan, by a Russian lady immigrant friend. Kamsack is in mid Saskatchewan, near the Manitoba border. Hence, the bean will start in colder soil, does best in cooler climates, extreme heat causes bean to wither and die back.
Can be used as a snap bean in very early stages, but still have not tried as a cooked bean, as you need the seed, which is quite rare.
Seed Diversity of Canada website lists this bean as endangered, and only available from a few private growers."
The name is such because it supposedly tastes like mushrooms. You will have to take her word for it since neither Cliff nor I have eaten it yet. We saved all the beans for you.
10 fresh sustainably grown seeds
TRIONFO VIOLETTO ITALIAN PURPLE POLE BEAN Very early, like 60 days or less. Great really nutty sweet beany taste in long 8-10 inch pods. They are thin, crisp, and never get strings. Like all the purple snap beans they turn green when blanched. Great production even under difficult conditions (like this wildlife infested garden!). Scads of violet flowers were very ornamental and each flower turns into a bean. Very long harvest season if continually picked. These are grown for me by my friend Cliff in Idaho. 10 fresh sustainably grown seeds. ( grown without pesticides )
BACK AGAIN FOR 2012!~ TRUE RED CRANBERRY POLE DRY BEAN- ~ 1700's HEIRLOOM ~ Very Rare~VERY LIMITED QUANTITIES **LIMIT 3 PACKS**
This is the rare heirloom bean that was rediscovered by celebrated bean collector, John Withee. He searched for 11 years for this bean after reading about a "Red Cranberry" bean in a 1700's gardening encyclopedia. He finally discovered it growing on a Mr. Taylor's farm in Steep Falls, Maine. These beans are fat and shiny and a wondrous deep cranberry red color that does not show up well in photos. These beans really do look like real cranberries, only a bit darker red in color. These are probably one of America's oldest bean varieties, probably of Native American origin . True Red Cranberry beans grow on stocky, shortish 6 foot vines and can take the cold and short growing seasons better than any other bean I have grown. They have a rich flavor unlike any other bean I have tasted They are one of my personal favorites not only for beauty but for taste.
Due to demand and short stock, limit of 3 packs per customer please.
10 fresh organically grown bean seeds.
PRETZEL BEAN - aka Ram's Horn Bean This bean will be a sure hit with children and will impress all your neighbors and fellow gardeners. You have never seen anything like it. An old heirloom bean from Lancaster County, grown here for years by the Amish and the Mennonites mostly just for fun. The pictures say it all. It really looks like a green pretzel! Absolutely lovely decorative purple flowers are on the plant at the same time as the beans. It can grow up to 6 feet , so a bit of staking will help, but mine usually are about 4 feet tall. It does best planted in blocks rather than rows. Absolutely showstopping fun for all to see. Can be cooked when young like string beans, but really more for show than culinary use. I guarantee everyone will want the elusive "Pretzel Bean" once they see it growing, and curling exactly like its namesake. I had heard about it and searched for it for years and finally tracked some down at a farm nearby and have been growing it ever since. It likes a bit of drought. I grew this at the Pennsylvania German demonstration garden at the Historic Schaefferstown Musuem and it is so wildly popular that the visitors continually "steal" the beans. So I always have limited quantities of this rare and beautiful bean. Because of the high demand, I decided to list this bean this year even though I have so very few seeds. 5 of my own organically grown bean seeds.
HARWIG'S HEIRLOOM BELGIUM POLE "FILET" SNAP BEAN- RARE!- - BABY BEANS ON A POLE! - I was thrilled to get seed of this rare family heirloom pole bean, through a friend out west. This Minnesota family heirloom was brought to the United States from Belgium in the early 1900's by D. Harwig's grandmother. What makes this bean so extra special is a quality I have never encountered before in a pole sort. This is a fancy, filet-type snap green bean, very tiny and thin and only 4 to 6 inches long. The 6 to 8 foot long vines are absolutely encrusted with hundreds of these specialty gourmet "french style" type beans. You never saw such production, especially in this type of gourmet bean. Filet beans are usually on short,small bushes, and by nature not plentiful like these pole sorts. Heavy yielding and prolific is an understatement. Fabulous, very delicate flavor make this a real winner for all you lovers of things French (or Flemish). I bet Julia Child or the most famous Belgian, Hercule Poirot, would have loved these baby beans! My special thanks to my friend Cliff who acquired and grew out these wonderful beans for me on his ranch in Idaho.Cliff grows all his beans sustainably, without pesticides. This beautiful photo was also taken by Cliff on location. 10 fresh sustainably grown bean seeds. RARE!
-PURPLE PODDED POLE BEAN - BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!- This is a heavenly, almost fluorescent purple pole bean, hailing from the Ozark mountains. This lovely heirloom beauty was found growing in a garden the 1930's by the old Henry Fields Seed Company. It is most likely of European origin and probably dating much earlier than that . Very vigorous grower of vines reaching easily over 6 -8 feet , but not out of control like some pole types I have grown. I grow mine on bamboo poles intertwined with my lovely purple "Grandpa Otts Morning Glory". It is stunning that way. It is a favorite bean for growing for children, since it "magically" turns bright green when cooked right before their very eyes. Plus the pods are so easy for youngsters (and oldsters) to see and pick. Try growing a living "fort" on a bamboo teepee for your kids with these. These gorgeous snap beans are stringless, nice and meaty. They are less than 1/2 inch across by about 5-7 inches long. The entire bean plant just glows and is quite ornamental with purple vines and veins in the leaves, and as you can see in the photo lovely bi-colored purple flowers as well. Fairly early for a pole sort. Seed is a buff brown color, with a hint of lavender. 10 of my own sustainably grown fresh beans.
STORTINO DI TRENTO STRIPED ANELLINO BUSH BEANRARE!!!Here is the second most beautiful snap type bean in the world, only beaten by the long vined beauty of "Stortino di Trento Marmorizzato Pole Bean." It also translates from Italian as "Stortino of Trent marbled shrimp bean" Again , we have the curved "shrimp shaped" beans, only a bit thinner and slightly smaller in size. They seemed to be more striped and less mottled with the purplish red markings, and the seeds are darker and skinnier too. Rather spindly for a bush sort and it had a tendency to throw out "runners" or longer branches of vine, a certain sign of the old age of this heirloom Italian snap bean. I would say the blossoms were a paler pink rather than purple in color. Great culinary taste, as that is what Italians value in their vegetables even over their beauty. Another old Italian heirloom sort that has just been rediscovered. I consider myself very lucky to be one of the very few who has acquired these rare beans and grown them here in the USA to offer to you. They did splendidly here in my zone 6A garden, and I imagine will just about anywhere else, as they were so prolific as well as hardy. They didn't die off until hard frost in November. You will adore these beans, for beauty and fabulous taste.Many thanks to my friend Cliff in Idaho who also helped so much by growing more of these beans sustainably for me. That way I would have enough beans to offer to you in the first year of American growing. 10+ of my own fresh organically grown seeds.
VERMONT APPALOOSA DRY BEAN -
dual purpose as dry/snap bean. I received my original beans of this incorrectly labelled in a seed trade. They were suposed to be a very rare runner bean (Phaseolus coccineus). But alas, they were Phaseolus vulgaris, what we know as a snap/dry/soup bean, and were from an altogether different bean family. However, I was curious as to what they would produce, since they were a pretty spotted bean unlike any I had ever seen before. They had odd swirls of spots in black, brown, tan and white and were almost halved in color. So plant them I did, and was very pleased with the long pale, flat, green snap beans that it produced. This was a smallish, short , pole bean type, not really long vines, maybe 3 feet high at the most, but not a bush bean as it threw out runners. I would call them more of a half-runner sort. Nice crisp flesh, that held nicely on the vine, without getting lumpy or tough. Nice and prolific, and VERY resistant to insects. I finally was able to positively identify these as the old time Vermont Appaloosa Bean, so named because they look like the rump of this breed of spotted horse. Eat some early in the season as snap beans and leave some to dry on the vine in late summer or fall for dry beans. 10 of my own fresh organically grown bean seeds.
BACK AGAIN FOR 2012! COSSE VIOLETTE POLE BEAN ~ SCARCE ~ ALL PURPLE PLANTS!
This was another great heirloom bean sustainably grown for me by my dear friend, Cliff, in Idaho. Here is what Cliff had to say in his own words about this pretty purple bean : " ...violet pole bean, great new selection, 1:1 bean to foliage ratio, very heavy producer unlike many of the violetta beans. Pod clusters of 4-7, bears all season long. Excellent flavor. 65-70 days, needs about 10 foot trellis, bears from bottom to top of trellis, most at middle of trellis. Excellent bonus, stem are purple and almost all leaves have a purple tinge across the top of the leaf." Cliff told me he got the original seed from the United Kingdom although it is a French heirloom bean. We both are big fans of purple podded pole beans and source every type we can get our hands on to grow out. Remember all purple snap beans turn bright green when blanched (cooked) and it is always fun to do that "trick" when the children are watching in the kitchen. The lovely photos for this bean are also taken by Cliff.
10 fresh sustainably grown seeds
BACK AGAIN FOR 2012! MASAI SNAP BEAN- BUSH TYPE-This is a super gourmet mini french filet bean. It's ready to pick at at 50 days. It is vigorous, fast growing, and very heavy bearer throughout the season. One if its good points is you dont have to pick daily. The green 4-6 inch beans are tender and tasty. Plants are very compact, about 12-14 inches tall, and will work very well even in containers. You get dozens of beans per small plant.They bear from mid-summer till frost. In fact fall crops are just as heavy as in summer. I have tried many mini french filet beans, and MASAI is my favorite filet ! This is another of the wonderful beans grown sustainably for me by my great bean friend Cliff in Idaho.
10 fresh organically grown bean seeds.
NEW FOR 2012! RUNNER BEAN MIX- PAINTED LADY and SCARLET RUNNER~ My friend Cliff in Idaho who grows so many runner beans for me had a bean mix this year and now so will you. This is a mix of both of these runner beans. Here are my descriptions of both runner beans in this mix:
SCARLET EMPEROR RUNNER BEAN (Phaseolus coccineus). A member of the Leguminosae, or legume family (70+ days). A traditional, and highly successful red flowered bean. Scarlet Emperor is a special variety of Red Runner Bean. It is a great climber and will cover your porch or bean teepee with red flowers and edible beans. A favorite of hummingbirds. The Hummers just "live" in these beans once they are blooming, I have them growing on teepees. Harvest runner beans at 4 to 6 inches long for best quality, but they can get over 12" long pods. This heirloom bean was first grown in the 1600's. Introduced to the United States in the 1800's. Used by native Americans, large vigorous vines over 12 feet long. The flowers are very ornamental, in clusters of the brightest scarlet, good to cook as snap, shell or dry beans. The huge seeds are very colorful, violet-purple mottled in black, sometimes called jewelry beans and strung into necklaces. I personally think they are the original "Jack-in-the-Beanstalk" beans! These beans like fairly cool weather. Even if you do not have a green thumb, these are for you! After planting, they seem to be at a standstill...then suddenly, they are shooting up everywhere. It's simply beautiful. In the photo, is my Scarlet Emperor Bean on the fence along with the wonderful deep purple "Grandpa Ott's Morning Glory" for a superb color combination. My dear friend Eva, whom you have heard so much about on this website, called them "Fire Beans" which is actually the direct translation from the German, Feuer Bohne,
Eva spoke fluent Pennsylvania Dutch (PA German).
PAINTED LADY RUNNER BEAN - also called York or Lancaster Runner - Species coccineus - The name "Painted Lady" refers to Queen Elizabeth I, who wore rouge and makeup in her day. This is the only runner bean with unique bi-colored blossoms. It is considered an ornamental climber in England because of its rapid growth and its many lovely flowers. It will climb counterclockwise, unlike most climbing beans. Very rare seed. The lovely whitish pink and coral red bi-colored blossoms are so decorative. They are edible as well with a rich "beany" taste if picked small. It has huge long pods which get up over foot long and are filled with very large mottled buff and brown seeds. They have a unique little "hook" on the end of the pod that I haven't ever seen before in any other beans.
These are so incredibly beautiful and extremely attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies. I grow them all over my fences. This is a prime example of an ornamental edible. It was first introduced to England in 1633 by John Tradescant, gardener to Charles I. Described by Arrabida Flora of Rio Janeiro in 1827, and still very rare. It has a Pole Bean running habit. The locals here in Amishland in the early 1800's used to serve runner beans "whittled" into long shreds called in dialect "Schipple," and made them into a pickled form like sauerkraut called "Schipplebuhne". I have only a limited supply of these seeds. I had searched for years for this rare variety and now you can have it in your gardens too.
Mix is: 10 huge fresh sustainably grown bean seeds.
BACK FOR 2012! PAINTED LADY RUNNER BEAN - also called York or Lancaster Runner -
Species coccineus - The name "Painted Lady" refers to Queen Elizabeth I, who wore rouge and makeup in her day. This is the only runner bean with unique bi-colored blossoms . It is considered an ornamental climber in England because of its rapid growth and its many lovely flowers. It will climb counterclockwise, unlike most climbing beans. Very rare seed. The lovely whitish pink and coral red bi-colored blossoms are so decorative. They are edible as well with a rich "beany" taste if picked small. It has huge long pods which get up over foot long and are filled with very large mottled buff and brown seeds. They have a unique little "hook" on the end of the pod that I haven't ever seen before in any other beans.
These are so incredibly beautiful and extremely attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies. I grow them all over my fences. This is a prime example of an ornamental edible. It was first introduced to England in 1633 by John Tradescant, gardener to Charles I. Described by Arrabida Flora of Rio Janeiro in 1827, and still very rare. It has a Pole Bean running habit. The locals here in Amishland in the early 1800's used to serve runner beans "whittled" into long shreds called in dialect "Schipple," and made them into a pickled form like sauerkraut called "Schipplebuhne". I have only a limited supply of these seeds. I had searched for years for this rare variety and now you can have it in your gardens too.
5 fresh sustainably grown bean seeds.
BACK AGAIN FOR 2012! ALMAS PA DUTCH PURPLE BURGUNDY LIMA BEAN ~RARE LOCAL HEIRLOOM~ This Lima is small and very dark burgundy purple and has a terrific, rich chestnut yummy flavor. It is a very rare local Pennsylvania German heirloom variety. My original seeds came from my seed and gardener mentor, my 89 year old Pennsylvania Dutch friend, Eva, who passed away recently. Her family has grown these same lima beans for 5 generations. Long vines and very prolific. This season they "attacked" my 7-foot Butterfly bush and grew all over it! For those of you in colder regions who thought you couldn't grow lima beans, these may be worth a try, they kept pumping out until hard frost. Unfortunately, althought is was growing gangbusters as always we had a huge storm this summer that knocked over all the pole beans and literally yanked them out by their roots. I was dealing with a flood of 5 inches in my basement (which has no drain, ah these quaint old houses, so I had to shop vac all the water out) and wasn't able to get that garden till days later. So, I lost most of my pole beans with these included. My WORCESTER INDIAN RED POLE LIMA aka Peruvian Lima looks nearly identical to this lima and they may have had the same origin way back in time.
10 of my own fresh organically grown seeds
