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

Python beans are a distinctive and versatile variety of pole beans, celebrated for their unique appearance and robust flavor. Named for their long, slender pods, which can reach up to 23" inches in length, Python beans offer an impressive visual appeal with their vibrant green color and smooth texture. The plants exhibit a vigorous climbing habit, often requiring sturdy trellises or poles for support as they grow to heights of 6 to 8 feet. Python beans are known for their crisp, tender pods and slightly sweet taste, making them an excellent choice for fresh eating, sautéing, or adding to various dishes. They are also prized for their resilience and adaptability, thriving in a range of soil types and weather conditions. With a maturity period of about 70 to 80 days, Python beans provide a reliable and attractive harvest, enhancing both the beauty and flavor of any vegetable garden.

Chivo Blanco beans (Frijol Chivo Blanco) are a cherished heirloom variety native to Mexico, known for their small, white, and slightly oval-shaped beans. These beans are valued for their creamy texture and delicate flavor, making them perfect for a wide range of traditional Mexican dishes such as soups, stews, and frijoles de la olla (beans in a pot). The name "Chivo Blanco" refers to their smooth, pale appearance, and they are often praised for their ability to cook quickly and absorb seasonings well. Grown primarily in the central and southern regions of Mexico, Chivo Blanco beans are resilient to various growing conditions, thriving in both temperate and semi-arid climates. As an open-pollinated variety, they are ideal for sustainable farming and seed-saving, helping to preserve the rich agricultural heritage of Mexico while offering a reliable, nutritious source of protein for many households.

Dark Red Kidney beans are one of the most widely used beans in North America! Dark Red Kidney is a bush variety of dried bean. Each pod contains 5 large, red kidney shaped beans. If rain threatens before your beans are totally dry, pull the whole plant up, hang upside down in your barn/garage to let them finish drying. Once dry, these beans will store for a long time! This bean is often used in Mexican food.A perfect winter food full of protein straight from your own garden.

A gourmet, dwarf French filet bean well suited for container gardens or rows. Cooks appreciate the elegance of these petite, slim beans of consistent quality. Considered one of the best flavored beans that stay tender for several days after harvest. Suitable for small space gardens.

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.

Garbanzo beans are great for making homemade hummus. This unique heirloom variety produces delicious beans. Perfect for hummus and other Middle Eastern dishes. Also great for sprouting as well. Grow for a week and eat entire plant. Very nutritious! Contains vitamin A, C, calcium, iron and magnesium. Also known as chickpea. If using for sprouting they will be ready in 3-5 days.

The Hidatsa Shield bean, an heirloom variety with deep cultural roots, traces its origins to the Hidatsa people of the northern Great Plains in the United States. This ancient cultivar was cherished for its hardiness and flavor, embodying a vital part of the Hidatsa diet for centuries. The bean is named for its distinctive shield-shaped markings, which can range from mottled browns and reds to purples, giving it a striking appearance. Its flavor profile is noted for a rich, nutty taste with a creamy texture, making it a favored choice in various traditional dishes. The plant itself is a vigorous climber, known for its adaptability to different soil types and growing conditions. It typically blooms in mid-summer, producing small, pale flowers before setting pods that are ready for harvest in late summer or early fall. The Hidatsa Shield bean's resilience and ease of cultivation, coupled with its historical significance, continue to make it a valued crop among gardeners and food enthusiasts.

This high-producing variety delivers an extended harvest period on tall, upright plants that are both strong and vigorous. It sets large, well-filled pods—typically containing three seeds each—with excellent flavor, especially when steamed. Known for its impressive yields, it outperforms comparable varieties while maintaining strong resistance to lodging. An indeterminate bush type with light tan pubescence, it offers both reliability and outstanding garden performance.

Strike beans are one of the heaviest yielding bush beans on the market. Continuous setting feature protects grower from stress, better than concentrated set types. Medium green, 5" round pod with good disease tolerance. Excellent flavor that is very popular with commercial growers.

Elegance beans are a refined and attractive variety of pole beans, known for their impressive combination of visual appeal and superb flavor. These beans produce long, slender pods that typically measure 6 to 8 inches in length, featuring a rich green color and a smooth, glossy texture. The plants are characterized by their vigorous growth and high productivity, with a climbing habit that benefits from sturdy supports like trellises or poles. Elegance beans are renowned for their tender, crisp texture and mildly sweet taste, making them ideal for fresh eating, steaming, or sautéing. They are also noted for their disease resistance and adaptability to various growing conditions, thriving in full sun and well-drained soil. With their elegant appearance and exceptional culinary qualities, Elegance beans are a popular choice among gardeners looking to add both beauty and flavor to their harvest.

Fava Broad Windsor beans, also known as Vicia faba 'Broad Windsor,' are a classic heirloom variety with a storied history and a range of notable characteristics. Originating in the United Kingdom, this variety has been cultivated for centuries and is particularly valued for its large, hearty beans and reliable yield. The plants are characterized by their robust growth habit, reaching heights of 24 to 36 inches, with broad, dark green leaves and striking white flowers often tinged with purple. The beans themselves are large and plump, typically encased in thick, protective pods that turn from green to a rich brown as they mature. Fava Broad Windsor beans are known for their creamy, slightly nutty flavor, which becomes more pronounced when the beans are cooked. The plants generally bloom in late spring to early summer, and the beans are usually harvested about 80 to 90 days after sowing. They thrive in cool, well-drained soil and prefer full sun to partial shade. The robust nature of the plants and their ability to fix nitrogen in the soil make them a valuable crop for improving soil fertility in rotation systems. With their rich flavor, historical significance, and agronomic benefits, Fava Broad Windsor beans are a cherished choice for both traditional and modern gardens.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Colorful Garden Blend is a beautiful and delicious mix of green, purple and yellow garden beans. A fun way to grow a beautiful mixture of garden beans. This gourmet blend is excellent for fresh eating and canning. All bush varieties that are high yielding and mature around the same time! Even mix of Slenderette, Royal Burgundy Purple and Cherokee Wax.

Christmas bean, scientifically known as Phaseolus vulgaris 'Christmas,' is a delightful and unique variety of green bean that adds a festive touch to holiday meals. This particular bean cultivar has a fascinating history dating back to the early 20th century when it was first developed by dedicated plant breeders. Its name, "Christmas bean," is derived from its vibrant red and green coloration, reminiscent of traditional holiday colors. In terms of taste, Christmas beans are known for their tender and crisp texture, making them a delightful addition to a variety of dishes. Their flavor is mildly sweet with a subtle nuttiness, making them a versatile choice for both cooking and salads. The beans typically mature in about 80 to 90 days, making them a relatively quick-growing option for gardeners. The pod size is medium to large, with an average length of 6-7 inches, perfect for harvesting when they are young and tender. Christmas bean plants need staked and can grow up 10' and higher! They are known for their disease resistance, particularly against common bean diseases such as rust and bean mosaic virus. When properly cared for, Christmas bean plants can yield an abundant harvest, with each plant producing a substantial number of pods. For optimal growth, they require well-drained soil, full sun exposure, and regular watering. Plant spacing should be about 4-6 inches apart in rows, and they thrive in a variety of climates, making them a popular choice for gardeners looking to add a festive touch to their holiday season while enjoying a bountiful harvest of delicious, colorful beans.  

Royal Burgundy beans, also known as purple bush beans, are a unique and visually striking variety of Phaseolus vulgaris, the common garden bean. These beans have a rich history dating back centuries, with their origins believed to be in Central and South America, where indigenous peoples cultivated various types of beans. The name "Royal Burgundy" reflects their regal appearance, as the pods and beans are a deep, royal purple color. They gained popularity in the United States during the 1980s and have since become a favorite among gardeners and culinary enthusiasts alike. In terms of taste, Royal Burgundy beans offer a mild, slightly nutty flavor that is reminiscent of traditional green beans. However, their vibrant purple color adds a striking visual element to dishes, making them a popular choice for salads and garnishes. The pods are typically around 4-6 inches in length and are harvested when they are young and tender, before the seeds inside fully develop. Royal Burgundy bean plants are compact and bushy in nature, making them well-suited for smaller gardens and containers. They typically reach a height of about 18-24 inches. These beans are known for their relatively quick maturity, with most varieties ready for harvest in approximately 50-60 days after planting. Their vibrant purple color is not only appealing but also serves as a natural indicator of freshness. Royal Burgundy beans exhibit good resistance to common bean diseases such as bean mosaic virus and rust. When properly cared for, these plants can yield a bountiful harvest. Yields can vary, but on average, you can expect a productive harvest of 2-3 pounds of beans per plant. Plant spacing should be around 2-4 inches apart in rows that are spaced about 18-24 inches apart. They thrive in well-drained soil with full sun exposure and regular watering, making them a relatively easy and rewarding addition to any vegetable garden.