Bean Guide
Bush Bean Comparison Chart
Compare every bush bean we carry side by side, from early snap beans to limas and dry beans for soups and baking. Varieties are grouped by type and sorted by days to maturity. Tap any variety to see full details and order seed.
Snap Beans
Round, filet and flat Romano pods picked young and eaten whole. Green, yellow wax and purple types, most ready in 45–60 days.
limaLima Beans
Buttery baby and large limas shelled fresh for freezing and succotash, or left on the plant to dry. Need warm soil and a longer season.
shell · dryShelling & Dry Beans
Grown for the seed inside the pod. Harvest plump for fresh shelling or let pods dry on the plant for soups, chili and baked beans.
Round Pod
| Variety | Days | Pod Color | Pod Length | Plant Height | Seed Color | Disease Resistance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | Medium green | 5–6" | 18" | White | BCMV |
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| 50 | Dark green | 6" | 18" | White | BCMV |
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| 50 | Medium green | 5–6" | 18" | Purple, speckled |
BCMVBPMVDMPM
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| 52 | Medium green | 6½" | 24" | White | BCMV |
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52 | Yellow | 5–6" | 18" | Black | — |
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52 | Medium green | 6–8" | 24" | Tan |
BCMVPM
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| 52 | Yellow | 5–6" | 24" | White |
ABBSBCMV
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| 53 | Dark green | 6–7" | 24" | Pale green |
BCMVCTVR
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| 53 | Dark green | 6" | 24" | White | BCMV |
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| 55 | Yellow | 5–6" | 18" | White |
BCMVPM
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55 | Medium green | 5" | 18" | Brown | — |
| 55 | Yellow | 5–7" | 18" | Black |
BCMVPMR
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| 55 | Purple | 4–6" | 24" | Brown | BCMV |
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| 55 | Dark green | 5–5½" | 24" | White |
BCMVCTVPM
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55 | Dark green | 5½" | 24" | Brown | BCMV |
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55 | Medium green | 6–7" | 18" | Brown |
BCMVBPMV
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| 58 | Dark green | 5½" | 24" | White |
BCMVR
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80 | Green | 6" | 24" | Mixed | — |
Filet (French) Beans
Flat Pod (Romano)
| Variety | Days | Pod Color | Pod Length | Plant Height | Seed Color | Disease Resistance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
47 | Medium green | 7–8" | 18" | White | BCMV |
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48 | Light green | 6–7" | 24" | Tan | — |
| 57 | Medium green | 6–7" | 18" | Brown | — |
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| 60 | Medium green | 4½–5½" | 24" | White |
BCMVPM
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Blends
| Variety | Days | Pod Color | Pod Length | Plant Height | Seed Color | Disease Resistance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | Tri-color | 5–6" | 18" | Mixed | — |
|
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85 | Yellow & purple | — | 18" | Mixed | — |
Plant in succession
Bush beans set most of their crop over two to three weeks. For a steady supply of snap beans, sow a new row every two to three weeks from after frost (soil at least 60°F) until about ten weeks before your first fall frost.
Lima Beans
| Variety | Days | Type | Seed Color | Plant Height | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
65 | Baby lima | Pale green-white | 24" | Fresh shell, freezing, dry |
|
65 | Baby lima | Buff, purple-speckled | 18" | Fresh shell, dry |
| 70 | Baby lima | White | 24" | Fresh shell, freezing | |
| 70 | Baby lima | Green-white | 30" | Fresh shell, freezing | |
| 75 | Large lima | Green-white | 24" | Fresh shell, freezing | |
|
75 | Large lima | Pale green | 24" | Fresh shell, freezing |
Shelling & Dry Beans
| Variety | Days | Type | Seed Color | Plant Height | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
65 | Horticultural | Tan, red-speckled | 24" | Fresh shell, soups |
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70 | Dry | Yellow | 24" | Stews, refried |
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70 | Dry | Tan | 24" | Refried, stews |
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70 | Dry | White | 24" | Soups, stews |
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70 | Dry | Black | 24" | Black beans, soups |
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80 | Dry | Black & white | 24" | Soups, baking |
| 85 | Dry | White | 24" | Baked beans, soups | |
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90 | Dry | White | 18" | Soups, salads |
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90 | Dry | Brown, mottled | 24" | Soups, baking |
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90 | Dry | White | 24" | Baking, soups |
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90 | Dry | White, maroon-speckled | 24" | Baked beans |
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90 | Dry | White, gold-speckled | 24" | Baked beans |
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90 | Dry | White, tan eye | 24" | Baked beans |
| 90 | Dry | Tan, brown-speckled | 24" | Refried, chili | |
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90 | Dry | White, red-brown eye | 30" | Baked beans |
| 90 | Shell / dry | Red-speckled | 24" | Fresh shell, soups | |
| 95 | Dry | Light red | 18" | Chili, salads | |
| 96 | Dry | Dark red | 18" | Chili, canning | |
| 100 | Dry | Black | 24" | Black beans, soups |
Disease Resistance Codes
Pod length and plant height are typical values from breeders and seed trials; results vary with growing conditions. For limas and shelling beans, days are to fresh-shell harvest; for dry beans, to dry pods. A dash (—) means the figure isn’t published for that variety.