Beans

Beans

At Urban Farmer we supply several bean varieties that work for gardeners to small farm market growers. We trial all bean varieties and select only the best-tasting, most attractive, and best producing bean plants. Choose from bush beans, pole beans, lima beans, runner beans, shelling beans and stringless beans. Beans come in a variety of maturity dates, colors, shapes, sizes and taste!

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How to Grow Beans

The Mardi Gras Blend is almost too pretty to eat! These fun bright yellow and purple semi flat bean pods are a favorite among home chefs. The Mardi Gras Blend sets a heavy crop of delicious nutty beans. These organic heirlooms are a fun way to get beneficial nutrients.

The Kentucky Wonder 125 bean is a wonderful bush bean that is above the others! Kentucky Wonder 125 Bush Bean matures early than most bush beans and produces beans in clusters over a long season. The bush beans’ meaty, medium-green pods are 8 inches and packed with delicious, extra-tasty bean seeds.

Midori Giant is a traditional edamame variety that is eaten in oriental food. Midori Giant is an early maturing soybean with very large pods. Consistent heavy producer with over 90% two and three-seeded pods. Adaptable to all regions of the USA.

The Slenderette bean is an improved Blue Lake bean. So, so good! The Slenderette bean is slow to become fibrous, giving it a quality that in unmatched by any other bean. Stringless. We found it to be very prolific in our test garden. Fast maturing and small seeds when picked for fresh eating. Very straight pods that look great for market selling. Excellent bean, high yields and straight pods.

Jade bush beans are long, uniform pods that reach 6-7" in length. With slender, deep green pods that burst with delicious flavor. A high yielding bean that doesn't mind stress and offers good disease resistance. Pale green seeds.

The Blue Lake FM-1K Pole is a stringless pole bean that is very tasty! Blue Lake beans are known for reliability, disease resistance, flavor and high yields. This is the pole version of the popular bush type that is widely planted for the canning industry. These bright green beans are straight and reach up to 7'. Perfect for those who are tired of bending over to pick beans, but still want the high yield of a bush bean.

The Orient Wonder bean is a white seeded yard-long bean with tender pods. This type of pole bean is sometimes called asparagus or yard-long bean. Popular in warm and humid areas, where plants are vigorously vining. Extra-long, slender pods are slow to form seeds, resulting in more tender beans that can be harvested over an extended period. Orient Wonder is popular for specialty and ethnic markets and superior to standard strains due to its ability to set in cooler climates.

The great northern bean is an heirloom bean variety that is perfect for drying and using in different baked dishes. Semi-vining, 24 inch plants yield a prolific quantity of flat, 5 inch pods holding 5 to 6, large white beans.

The Vermont Cranberry Shell bean is an incredible bean variety that can be used as a snap, shell or dry bean. Cranberry Shell stores exceptionally well. Maroon colored beans are decorated with darker red, cranberry markings. This variety dates back to the 1800s and is well-suited to short-season, cool summer climates.

Henderson Lima beans, often referred to as Henderson's Bush Beans, are a renowned heirloom variety with a rich history and notable characteristics. Originating in the early 20th century, these beans were developed by the Henderson Seed Company, a notable seed supplier based in the United States. Henderson beans are appreciated for their compact, bushy growth habit, making them well-suited for smaller gardens or container planting. The plants typically reach about 18 to 24 inches in height, which allows for easy management and harvesting without the need for extensive staking or trellising. The beans are characterized by their smooth, green pods and are known for their tender texture and sweet, mild flavor. The pods are generally harvested when they are young and firm, usually in mid to late summer, to ensure the best taste and quality. Henderson beans are valued for their consistent productivity and disease resistance, which contribute to a reliable harvest. With their appealing flavor, compact growth habit, and dependable performance, Henderson beans remain a popular choice among home gardeners seeking a high-quality, easy-to-grow bean variety.

Greencrop beans are a classic heirloom variety renowned for their distinctive features and reliable performance. Originating in the early 20th century, this variety has been favored by gardeners for its robust growth and high productivity. Greencrop beans are characterized by their striking green color, smooth texture, and uniform shape. The plants are typically bush-type, reaching a height of about 18 to 24 inches, which makes them suitable for smaller garden spaces and easier to manage without extensive staking. The beans themselves are known for their crisp and tender texture, combined with a mildly sweet and fresh flavor that enhances a variety of dishes. Harvesting is best done when the pods are young and firm, usually in mid to late summer, to ensure optimal taste and texture. Greencrop beans are valued for their high yield and resistance to common diseases, making them a dependable choice for both home gardeners and market growers. With their appealing flavor, compact growth habit, and consistent performance, Greencrop beans remain a popular and practical selection for vegetable gardens.

The Topcrop bean is a great bean for canning and freezing. Topcrop got its name for a reason. This bean plant grows a heavy, concentrated set of beans. One of the best known beans around. Harvest on the early side of maturity to get small and tender beans. Delicious eaten fresh off the vine!

The Pencil Pod Black Wax bean is a highly productive and long standing bush bean. Also known as 'Eastern Black Wax', these beans are bushy, vigorous, and resistant to rust and mosaic virus. The pods are golden color and grow to 5-7" long. A great all-purpose type, that is great fresh, canned, or frozen. As the name hints, the seeds are black.

The Light Red Kidney Bean is a popular kidney bean that has mild bean flavor! Excellent for chili, bean salads, and soups. Exceptional culinary quality, with silky texture and thin skin.  Plants grow to medium size that are sturdy and widely adapted. Produce well anywhere in the United States.

The Burpee Improved Bush Lime bean plants produce large pods, high yields, and perfectly shaped beans. Burpee Improved beans are both larger and thicker than normal lima beans. The growth is even more vigorous, with heavier foliage. The plants are uniformly upright.

Amarillo beans (Frijol Amarillo) are a beloved heirloom variety in Mexican cuisine, known for their golden-yellow color and slightly sweet, earthy flavor. These beans are medium-sized, with a smooth texture that makes them perfect for use in a variety of traditional dishes, such as stews, soups, and frijoles de la olla. Their subtle flavor and creamy consistency when cooked make them a versatile ingredient in both savory and vegetarian meals. Grown primarily in the central and southern regions of Mexico, Amarillo beans are well-suited to a range of climates and soil types, offering resilience and a reliable yield. As an open-pollinated variety, they are ideal for sustainable farming practices and seed-saving, ensuring that this flavorful and nutritious bean continues to play an essential role in both Mexican agriculture and cuisine.

Scarlet Runner beans are a striking heirloom variety with a rich history that traces back to indigenous cultures in Central and South America. Introduced to Europe in the 17th century, these beans quickly gained popularity for both their ornamental beauty and culinary qualities. Characterized by their vigorous growth habit, Scarlet Runner plants can climb up to 10 feet or more, making them ideal for trellises or fences. The most notable feature of this variety is its vibrant scarlet flowers, which attract pollinators and add a stunning visual appeal to gardens. The pods are long and flat, typically green, maturing to a reddish hue, and are best harvested while still young and tender. Known for their rich, earthy flavor and creamy texture, Scarlet Runner beans are delicious in a variety of dishes, from stews to salads. Harvesting usually occurs in late summer to early fall, ensuring that the beans are picked before they dry out. With their ornamental charm, exceptional taste, and high productivity, Scarlet Runner beans remain a beloved choice for gardeners looking to combine beauty with culinary excellence.

The French horticultural shell bean, also known as "Haricot Tarbais," is a classic heirloom variety renowned for its exceptional flavor and versatility in culinary applications. Originating in the Tarbes region of France, this bean has a rich historical significance in French cuisine. Its taste profile is a harmonious blend of nutty, earthy, and slightly sweet notes, making it a sought-after choice for gourmet dishes. This bean is classified as a pole bean, meaning it grows as a climbing vine that requires support. The pods of the French horticultural shell bean are medium-sized, typically reaching 4-6 inches in length, and they display a stunning mottled appearance with a creamy background and reddish streaks. The plant itself can attain a height of 8-10 feet, and it generally takes around 70-80 days to reach maturity from planting. In terms of disease resistance, the French horticultural shell bean exhibits decent resistance to common bean diseases like rust and mildew, although it's advisable to monitor and manage pests as needed. Under ideal growing conditions, this variety can yield approximately 1500-2000 pounds of beans per acre. Proper spacing is crucial for optimal growth; ensure that plants are spaced about 6-8 inches apart in rows that are 2-3 feet apart. These beans thrive in well-drained soil with full sun exposure and benefit from regular watering to maintain consistent moisture levels throughout the growing season. With its outstanding flavor and culinary versatility, the French horticultural shell bean is a delightful addition to any garden or kitchen.