(Good Mother Stallard Heirloom Bean, Pole Bean, Shelling Bean)

The colorful shelling beans of 'Good Mother Stallard' have a rich, meaty flavor. This heirloom pole bean has white seeds with splashes and smears of burgundy-violet. It's a top rate soup bean that was introduced by Glen Drowns of Sand Hill Preservation Center in Calamus, Iowa. Each pod holds five to six seeds. Fully ripe, dry pods are ready to harvest about 85 to 95 days after sowing seeds.

Bean leaves are trifoliate (three-leaved), arranged in an alternate fashion on the stem and have somewhat...

(Pole Bean)

The Italian heirloom pole bean, ‘Green Anellino’, produces small, tender, curved pods with mottled beans inside. The flavorful, meaty beans are ready for harvest 65 to 75 days after sowing. Like many modern beans this selection is self-fertile.

Bean leaves are trifoliate (three-leaved), arranged in an alternate fashion on the stem and have somewhat diamond-shaped leaflets. The flowers are typical of peas or beans; larger, rounded petals subtend smaller petals that form a lip or keeled beak....

(Bush Bean, Hidatsa Red Bush Bean, Shelling Bean)

A bush bean grown for its dry, shelling beans, 'Hidatsa Red' originated from the Hidatsa tribe of North Dakota. The beautifully colored beans look much like deep red kidney beans. Seeds of this heirloom variety were sold commercially as early as 1915. The dry pods are ready for shelling 80 to 100 days after sowing seeds. Although considered a bush bean, 'Hidatsa Red' will climb up to waist high and may need a low trellis for support.

Bean leaves are trifoliate (three-leaved), arranged in an...

(Bush Bean, Hutterite Soup Heirloom Bean, Shelling Bean)

An heirloom dry shelling bean, 'Hutterite Soup' is a bush bean variety originating with a Hutterite religious colony in Forest River, North Dakota. The dry, ripe beans are faintly yellow-green with a notable dark ring around the seed eyes. The pods are ready for shelling about 85 to 90 days after sowing seeds in the soil. Traditionally, rehydrated Hutterite Soup beans are used to make a delicious creamy white soup.

Bean leaves are trifoliate (three-leaved), arranged in an alternate fashion...

(Green Bean, Ideal Market Pole Bean, Pole Bean)

A very early snap bean variety, 'Ideal Market' has been known under multiple historic names: It was first introduced in 1914 as "Black Creaseback" by Van Antwerp's Seed Store of Mobile, Alabama; Then in 1924, it was reintroduced as "Reuter's Ideal Market" in New Orleans, Louisiana; Today, it's known simply and accurately as 'Ideal Market.' It's a heirloom climbing or pole bean that produces stringless, 5 inch long (13 centimeters) green pods. The high quality beans have a fine texture and good flavor....

(Improved Golden Wax Bean, Wax Bean)

The tender, flavorful, slightly flattened yellow pods of ‘Improved Golden Wax’ are produced on bushy plants, and are ready for harvest 45 to 55 days from sowing. This variety is entirely stringless, and also resistant to rust. Pods may be harvested when young as snap beans, or allowed to mature and dry on the vines for use as shelling beans. A great choice for home gardens, ‘Improved Golden Wax’ is fine for canning, freezing or fresh eating.

Plant beans in full sun and fertile, evenly moist,...

(Bush Bean, Ireland Creek Annie Heirloom Bean, Shelling Bean)

A bush bean grown for its superb shelling beans, 'Ireland Creek Annie' is an English heirloom variety. In North America, this selection has been grown since the 1930s at Ireland Creek Farm in British Columbia, Canada. The dry beans are creamy tan with subtle hints of yellow and pink. Dry pods are ready to shell only 70 to 75 days after sowing seeds. The plants are bushy but also leggy and may grow best if provided low trellising.

Bean leaves are trifoliate (three-leaved), arranged in an alternate...

(Bush Bean, Jacob's Cattle Bush Bean, Shelling Bean)

Also known as 'Trout', the heirloom bush bean 'Jacob's Cattle' is a standard shelling bean used to make baked beans in New England. This bean originated from the Passamaquoddy Indians in Maine. Immature green pods may be picked and eaten like snap beans but are best harvested dry. The very ornate and beautiful seeds are white with violet-red speckles and blotches. The dry pods are ready for shelling in 80 to 100 days after sowing seeds in the soil. For snap beans, pick green pods after 65 days.

Bean...

(Bush Bean, Kenearly Yellow Bush Bean, Shelling Bean)

Unsurpassed for making Hoppin' Joe or Boston baked bean dishes, the heirloom bush bean 'Kenearly Yellow Eye' produces dry pods that are exceptionally easy to shell. This bean was developed in Kentville, Nova Scotia, Canada. The dry beans are ivory with dark golden and brown blotches around the white eyes. The dry bean pods are ready to shell 80 to 95 days after sowing seeds.

Bean leaves are trifoliate (three-leaved), arranged in an alternate fashion on the stem and have somewhat diamond-shaped...

(Green Bean, Kentucky Blue Green Bean)

A 1991 All America Selections winner, ‘Kentucky Blue’ is a tall pole bean that was developed by crossing the popular ‘Kentucky Wonder’ and ‘Blue Lake’ varieties. This vigorous heavy bearing bean produces enormous tender green pods that are ready for harvest 58 to 65 days after sowing. This is a lightly stringy to stringless variety. Like many modern beans it is self-fertile.

After the danger of frost has passed, plant beans in full sun and fertile, evenly moist, well-drained garden loam. Seeds...