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

Tendergreen Improved is one of the highest yielding beans around. The Tendergreen Improved bean plant is a widely adapted home garden variety. These bean plants will produce some of the highest bean yields you'll ever see. Best eaten fresh.

A skinny filet bean with straight and smooth pods. Offers excellent flavor for home gardens and market growers. 5-6" pods that are resistant to anthracnose and bean mosaic virus.

Fordhook 242 beans are a popular variety of lima beans known for their smooth texture and rich, buttery flavor. These beans are characterized by their large, flat, greenish seeds that mature to a creamy, pale yellow when harvested. The Fordhook 242 variety is prized for its resilience and productivity, thriving in both home gardens and larger agricultural settings. With a growing season of about 70 to 80 days, these beans are often used in a wide range of culinary dishes, from soups and stews to side dishes and casseroles. Their versatility, coupled with their excellent taste, makes them a favorite among gardeners and chefs alike.

The Black Turtle Soup bean is very popular Latin favorite, that is also great in Cajun and Creole dishes. A tasty variety that grows upright with black beans inside the pod. Tall bush that keeps the bean pods off the ground.

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.

The delicious buttery flavor of the Golden Wax Bush Bean make it a favorite among home gardeners! The stringless bright yellow pods are resistant common bean mosaic virus. The plant can produce pods 5-6 inches long. The Golden Wax beans are wonderful for canning, freezing and as a dry shell bean!

Provider beans are a popular bush bean variety that has garnered attention for its reliable performance and ease of cultivation. Developed in the United States, Provider beans have a rich history dating back to the mid-20th century, when they were bred for both home gardens and commercial production. These beans are characterized by their compact growth habit, typically reaching about 18 to 24 inches in height, which makes them perfect for small spaces and easy to manage without staking. The pods are smooth and a vibrant green color, generally growing to about 5 to 6 inches long. Known for their excellent flavor and crisp texture, Provider beans are ideal for fresh eating, canning, or freezing. Harvesting is best done when the pods are young and firm, usually in mid to late summer, ensuring the best taste and quality. The plants are vigorous and produce high yields, demonstrating good resistance to common diseases. With their dependable growth, delightful flavor, and adaptability, Provider beans remain a favorite choice for both novice and experienced gardeners.

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.

Contender beans, scientifically known as Phaseolus vulgaris 'Contender,' are a popular variety of green snap beans that have a rich history and are prized by gardeners for their excellent flavor and productivity. Originating from the United States, Contender beans have been a favorite among home gardeners and commercial growers for many decades. This heirloom variety was first introduced in the 1940s and has since become a classic choice for those looking to cultivate delicious and reliable green beans. Contender beans typically produce uniform, straight pods that range in size from 6 to 7 inches (15 to 18 cm) in length. The pods are slender and tender, making them ideal for fresh consumption, canning, or freezing. The plants themselves are compact and bushy, reaching a height of about 18 to 24 inches (45 to 60 cm), which makes them well-suited for smaller garden spaces or container gardening. In terms of maturity, Contender beans are known for their relatively quick growth. They typically reach maturity in approximately 50 to 55 days after planting. These beans thrive in full sun and well-drained soil with good organic matter content. They are relatively easy to grow and require regular watering to maintain consistent soil moisture. Contender beans are a favorite among gardeners for their reliability, versatility, and the delectable taste of their tender green pods.

Jackson Wonder bush lima beans are a treasured heirloom variety with deep roots in Southern agriculture, particularly celebrated in the early 20th century. Known for their compact, bush-type growth habit, these beans typically reach heights of 18 to 24 inches, making them ideal for small gardens and easy to manage without support. The beans are characterized by their creamy white color, often with subtle greenish hues, and they grow in smooth, straight pods. Renowned for their rich, buttery flavor and creamy texture, Jackson Wonder beans are perfect for soups, stews, and as a delightful side dish. Harvesting typically occurs in mid to late summer when the pods are plump and the beans are fully developed but still tender. These plants are vigorous and produce a high yield, thriving in well-drained soil with ample sunlight, while also exhibiting resilience against common pests and diseases. With their delicious taste and reliable productivity, Jackson Wonder bush lima beans remain a favorite among gardeners and culinary enthusiasts alike.

Navy beans, scientifically known as Phaseolus vulgaris, are small, oval-shaped beans that are a popular and versatile member of the legume family. They are often referred to as navy beans due to their association with the United States Navy, where they were a staple food for sailors in the 19th century. These beans have a rich history dating back to ancient times when they were cultivated by indigenous peoples in the Americas. They were later introduced to Europe by Spanish explorers and became an essential part of global cuisine. Navy beans have a mild, nutty flavor and a smooth, creamy texture when cooked. They are known for their ability to absorb the flavors of the ingredients they are cooked with, making them a favorite in soups, stews, and baked bean dishes. These beans are typically small, about half an inch in length, and are usually white or off-white in color, although there are variations with speckled or colored coats. In terms of plant characteristics, navy bean plants are relatively compact, reaching a height of about 18 to 24 inches. They have a bushy growth habit and produce small, white or lavender flowers before developing pods that contain the beans. Navy beans typically take around 80 to 90 days to reach maturity, making them a relatively quick-growing crop. They thrive in well-drained soil with good moisture retention and prefer full sun for optimal growth. Adequate spacing and support may be needed to ensure healthy plant development, and they are generally grown as annuals in most regions.

The Pinto bean is a great tasting bean, very popular in many Mexican dishes! The Pinto bean plant is a half-runner type that produces 20 inch plants with light tan seeds with brown speckles. Eat young when green for delicious flavor. Great bean for using for refried beans.