Peinsipps Zweifarbige

Pole dry. This stunning productive bean variety, known as Peinsipps Zwefarbige, was obtained through a delightful trade with my Austrian gardening friend, Harriet Mella. While it has no documented history, its striking appearance adds charm to any garden, flourishing gracefully in relative obscurity.

Pea Bean Turkey

Pole Dry. Pea Bean Turkey is a highly productive variety known for yielding very good seed crops. My seed stock descends from beans originally purchased in Turkey by a Dutch collector and later acquired by a grower in Pennsylvania before reaching my hands. Interestingly, I've learned that a bean remarkably similar to this one has been cultivated in the UK for approximately 400 years, sharing the same distinctive pods, plants, and blossoms.

Penland Family

Pole. The Penland Family bean is a versatile variety that may be suitable for snap usage. These vigorous plants can reach heights of over 6 feet and produce impressive pods measuring 4.5 to 6 inches long and ½ inch wide. This variety hails from Gene Moore of Knoxville, Tennessee, dating back to 1864, and it’s possible that "Penland" reflects the family name of the original cultivators.

Peruvian Goose

The Peruvian Goose bean reaches maturity in approximately 100 days, producing its first dry pods, though it does not seem to be a vigorous climber. Known for its smooth texture, this dry bean is reportedly excellent in soups and baked beans, and its name hints at a South American origin. This variety was cultivated by the now-retired grower Amy Hawk in Calhan, Colorado, where her gardens were grown at an elevation of 6,700 feet.

Petit Gris

Pole Dry. Petit Gris beans features elegant twining vines that reach heights of 6 to 8 feet. This charming heirloom variety originates from Normandy, France, and was passed to me by a grower in Belgium. It is highly productive, with plants that become laden with short, round pods measuring approximately 4 inches. Prized for their exceptional flavor, rusticity, and impressive yield, Petit Gris beans are a delightful addition to any garden.

Ping Zebra

Pole Lima. Ping Zebra bean is a highly productive variety, known for being laden with pods. Requires a long growing season, often I'm harvesting the last pods on the day we anticipate a killing frost. To optimize your planting, you can start them indoors in small Styrofoam cups with potting mix, bringing them outside during warm daytime hours in May, and then transplanting them to the garden after three weeks of growth. Despite being small-seeded, these beans are strikingly beautiful and trace their origin back to China. They were given to me by Joseph Simcox, a world traveler and rare seed collector known as The Botanical Explorer.

Pink

The Pink bean variety, straightforwardly named, was originally purchased from the Vermont Bean Seed Company. It matures to dry beans in approximately 85 days. The viney, sprawling plants are remarkably productive, yielding 4-inch pods filled with 4 to 5 light pink seeds. These beans are an excellent choice for enhancing dishes like chili or soups.

Pink Emperor

Bush Dry. Pink Emperor takes approximately 95 days to produce its first dry pods. This variety is one of six segregations I discovered during my work with African Premier in 2014, and I had taken six years in refining this bean. With its seed grandmother being African Premier, these plants are impressively productive and, for a bush variety, can grow to over 20 inches tall. The pods typically measure 7 to 8 inches long, exhibiting a longer and straighter shape than those of African Premier. Each seed is approximately the size of a kidney bean, and 25 seeds can yield an impressive 2 to 2.5 pounds of beans.

Pink Fog

Semi-runner. The Pink Fog bean has obscure origins in the U.S.A., yet its productivity is notable, yielding very light pink beans that are nearly kidney-shaped. This delightful variety was acquired from the esteemed bean collection of Joseph Simcox, known as The Botanical Explorer.

Pink Panther

The Pink Panther bean is a bush dry bean variety that doesn’t grow runners and produces its first dry pods in about 85 days. These plants are notably productive and were introduced to me by my Austrian bean friend, Harriet Mella from Leibenfels. Bred by Erich Gerencser of Styria, Austria, this variety occasionally displays a stunning color reversal, where the pinkish base transforms into a vibrant red, accented by the characteristic white tip of the seed.

Pink Trout

Pink Trout bean is a bush variety that grows without runners and produces its first dry pods in approximately 85 days. These productive plants typically reach about 18 inches tall. I originally grew this bean in the early 1980s as a gift from the late Ernest B. Dana, a former SSE member from Etna, N.H. The seed coat coloration of the beans can vary depending on the soil, resulting in a differing ratio of red to white.

Pink Tip Greasy

Pole Greasy. The Pink Tip Greasy bean is an Appalachian variety hailing from Haywood County, North Carolina. Its name derives from the pod's spur end, which turns pink as the seeds inside mature. This variety is celebrated for its impressive yields, producing short, fat, shiny pods. Unlike snap beans typically enjoyed in northern climates, the Pink Tip Greasy bean is generally not prepared in the same way, reflecting regional culinary traditions.

Piros Feher

Semi-Runner/Dry. The Piros Feher bean is a Hungarian variety, pronounced Pee-Rosh-Fay-hair, that takes over 90 days to mature for dry beans. It features viney, productive plants that readily climb supports, yielding smooth pods measuring 3.5 to 5 inches long, each containing 3 to 5 short, plump seeds. The seeds exhibit an attractive appearance, closely resembling the Jacob's Cattle seedcoat pattern, making them visually appealing as well as tasty.

Plentiful

Bush Snap. The Plentiful bean variety is known for its widespread adaptability, reaching maturity in just 55 days for snaps and 85 days for dry pods. Bred and introduced by the Ferry-Morse Seed Company of Detroit, Michigan, in 1938, this variety demonstrates resistance to certain forms of rust. The pods are oval, fleshy, dark green, and straight, making them both productive and appealing for gardeners seeking reliable yields.

Poletschka

The Poletschka bean is a pole dry variety best suited for dry use, although it can also be enjoyed as a snap bean if harvested young. It takes about 108 days to produce dry seeds and features a vigorous climbing habit, reaching heights of up to 6 feet. The pods are approximately 4.25 inches long, round and green, displaying moderate wrinkling and constrictions that reveal the places where the seeds have formed. This variety hails from the native village of Kostilnyky in Western Ukraine and was generously shared with me by Lila Towle, a Danish Seed Saver from Tjele, Denmark.

Polka Dot

Bush/Dry. The Polka Dot bean is a highly productive variety, characterized by its 20-inch tall plants that first produced dry oval pods in just 74 days in a 2018 grow out, with the remaining pods harvested within three weeks. Bred by J.R. Hepler, a horticultural professor and plant breeder at the University of New Hampshire, this variety was initially marketed by his son, Billy, who started The Billy Hepler Seed Co. at the age of 12, selling these beans from around 1949 into the early 1950s. I first encountered this variety in the late 1970s when it was included in John Withee's Wanigan Associates catalog.

Possum Trot

Possum Trot is an early bush dry bean variety with pink blossoms, producing its first dry pod in just 81 days and maintaining a rapid harvest, with the entire pod set drying within three weeks. Originating as a segregation of a cranberry-type bean in 2014, I have cultivated and selected this variety for five seasons, resulting in a stable and highly productive outcome. The name "Possum Trot" was inspired by a large sign I noticed above a booth in an antique and collectibles shop with the letters spelling out Possum Trot as bold as the day. It seemed like a perfect name suited for this unique and beautiful bean variety.

Prefontaine

Bush/Dry. The Prefontaine bean variety takes about 110 days to produce its first dry pods, making it a late-maturing type that still yields within my frost-free period in a hardiness zone 5 climate. These tall plants grow to around 24 inches and are noteworthy for retaining their seed coat color and pattern even in hot summer weather, unlike the Jacob's Cattle variety, which typically turns nearly all red. This bean was donated to the USDA in 1982 by Johnny's Selected Seeds during Rob Johnston's tenure but has never appeared in any of Johnny's catalogs.

Prince Purple

Bush Dry Prince Purple is an early and productive bush bean variety, taking just 85 days to yield its first dry pods, which measure between 4 to 5.5 inches. This variety was originally named and introduced to the Seed Savers Exchange by the late Robert Lobitz from Paynesville, Minnesota, around 2001, and it continues to be prized for its beautiful purple beans.

Princess Rose

Bush/Dry Princess Rose is an early and productive bush bean variety, maturing in approximately 85 days to produce its first dry pods, which range from 4 to 5.5 inches in length. This variety was originally named and introduced through the Seed Savers Exchange by the late Robert Lobitz of Paynesville, Minnesota, around 2001, and is celebrated for its beautiful and unique pink beans.

Provider

Provider is a bush snap bean that matures in 50 days. Introduced to the public in 1963, it was developed by the USDA Vegetable Breeding Lab in Charleston, South Carolina, and boasts parentage from Valentine, Logan, Ashley Wax, Asgrow Stringless Greenpod, and Commodore. This variety produces heavy yields of 6-inch stringless, round green pods and is widely adapted to various growing conditions. As one of my all-time favorite snap varieties, it consistently impresses with its reliability and flavor.

Purple Amazon

Purple Amazon is an 85-day bush snap bean known for its striking purple pods. This variety features a robust plant with large leaves, making a significant visual impact in the garden. Revered by some as the late SSE member Robert Lobitz's finest purple podded bean, Purple Amazon was introduced through the Seed Savers Exchange yearbook over 25 years ago, showcasing its enduring appeal and contribution to heirloom varieties.

Purple Eye

Purple Eye is a pole lima bean that reaches shell stage in just 65 days and takes over 100 days to fully mature for dry beans. The plants exhibit a strong twinning habit and are remarkably productive, yielding an abundance of seeds. Each seed features a cream-colored base adorned with a distinctive purple eye ring. These beans thrive in Illinois, where they consistently deliver impressive harvests.

Purple Jester

Purple Jester is a semi-runner bean that takes over 105 days to produce dry seeds. This unique variety emerged from a grow-out of "Orca" in 2011 and is likely a cross or mutation, as it seems improbable that Orca, known for its distinct black eye patch, would suddenly develop a lighter hue and transform into a purple bean. Its intriguing origins add to the allure of this striking variety.

Purple Stardust

Purple Stardust is a bush dry bean that reaches maturity in 90 days, producing 5 to 6-inch pods from large, productive plants. While its coloration and pattern resemble those of a variety called Mrociumere, the seeds of Purple Stardust are notably heavier, shorter, more oval, and slightly wider. Additionally, the pods are broader and shorter, contributing to its distinctiveness. This variety was originally named and introduced by the late SSE member Robert Lobitz, highlighting its significance in heirloom gardening.

Puregold Wax

Puregold Wax is a bush snap wax bean developed by the Rogers Brothers Seed Company of Idaho Falls, Idaho, and released in 1947. This variety features dark foliage and striking golden yellow pods that are round, straight, smooth, and stringless. It exhibits resistance to bean mosaic viruses 1 and 15, along with tolerance to curly top, making it a reliable choice for various growing conditions. With a parentage of Brittle Wax and Wisconsin Hybrid Wax 536, Puregold Wax benefits from the robust genetics maintained by seed companies and the USDA for breeding initiatives.

PXBT-PP-97B-OOH

PXBT-PP-97B-00H is a semi-runner dry bean characterized by its highly productive, sprawling vine-like plants that produce 4-inch pods. Although it carries a numerical designation, this variety is an original unnamed bean cultivated by the late Robert Lobitz of Paynesville, Minnesota. The code was assigned by Robert himself, and only he could illuminate the meaning behind these unique identifiers, adding an element of mystery and intrigue to this exceptional bean variety.

Ram's Horn

Ramshorn is a pole snap bean known for its impressive 8 to 10-inch long oval pods marked with striking purple streaks. The plants are robust and vigorous, capable of climbing 12 feet or more, so they require sturdy support to thrive. The medium kidney-shaped seeds are mouse gray with a subtle buff tan undercolor, accented by prominent black stripes and a black eye ring. This unique variety was part of John Withee's Wanigan collection, and I first grew it in the early 80s. It was later rediscovered being cultivated by Jaanes Aalders in the Netherlands, further enhancing its intriguing heritage.

Ranger

Ranger is a semi-runner snap bean bred by Asgrow Seed Company and released to the public in 1947, known for its wide adaptability and quick maturation, reaching snap stage in just 56 days. The plants are spreading with short runners and are highly productive, producing silvery green pods that measure 5 inches long and 3/8 inch in diameter. These pods are mostly straight, round, and stringless, with a fiber-free texture. Additionally, Ranger offers robust resistance to common bean mosaic virus and powdery mildew, making it a reliable choice for diverse growing conditions.

Rattlesnake

Rattlesnake, also known as Preacher bean, is a pole snap variety that has gained popularity in the West and Southwest. This heirloom bean is celebrated for its flavorful and highly productive nature, producing vibrant 8 to 10-inch green pods adorned with attractive purple streaks and speckles. The vigorous vines continue to yield abundantly as long as the pods are regularly harvested, making them resilient in hot, humid, and drought-prone conditions. Rattlesnake is truly a cherished favorite in the garden, delivering both taste and reliability.

Reade Krobbe

Reade Krobbe is a bush dry bean and a cherished Friesian heirloom that has been cultivated for generations in the Netherlands. It bears a resemblance to the English variety Early Warwick, showcasing the shared gardening traditions between the Brits and the Dutch. This variety not only reflects a rich agricultural heritage but also emphasizes the value of heirloom beans in preserving regional flavors and historical practices.

Red Calico

Red Calico is a pole lima bean that takes over 110 days to produce dry seeds. It features striking red flat seeds adorned with dark purple markings. The plants are prolific producers, yielding an abundance of pods and seeds, and once the seeds reach maturity, the drying process occurs fairly quickly. This heirloom variety has a rich history in America, likely cultivated for several hundred years, showcasing the enduring appeal and resilience of traditional bean farming.

Red Cattle

Red Cattle is a bush dry bean that matures in 85 days, producing large and productive plants that do not have runners. This variety was obtained in 2014 from German bean collector Professor Jurgen Klapprot and is believed to originate from the south of France. Its reliable yield and adaptability make it a valuable addition to any garden focused on cultivating unique and historical bean varieties.

Red Eagle

Red Eagle is a bush dry bean known for its productivity, featuring red kidney beans that mature in 100 days, producing 5 to 6-inch pods. The plants are large with dark green foliage, and in trials, just 10 plants yielded over one pound of beans, showcasing its exceptional productivity. This original variety was named by the late Robert Lobitz, emphasizing its significance in heirloom gardening and its reputation as one of the most fruitful bush dry beans available.

Red Spotted Delight

Red Spotted Delight is a semi-runner dry bean and one of the original varieties introduced by the late Robert Lobitz through the Seed Savers Exchange yearbook in 2006. This distinctive bean features large, productive plants that can climb 4 feet or more, producing pods measuring 5.75 to 7 inches in length. The seeds exhibit slight variability in pattern; while most have charming red spots on a white background, others display a striking white appearance with a large red eye patch, adding to the visual appeal of this heirloom variety.

Red Sport

Red Sport is a bush dry bean that I discovered in my garden in 1981 and subsequently named. It was first listed in the Seed Savers Exchange (SSE) winter yearbook in 1982. This productive and healthy red kidney type has garnered attention from SSE members, including Will Bonsall, known for his Scattered Seed Project, who has featured it in past yearbooks. In a recent grow-out in 2021, an 8-foot section of row produced a remarkable pound of these striking red beans, underscoring its impressive yield and appeal.

Red Turtle

Red Turtle is a semi-runner dry bean with white blossoms and a fast maturation period, producing dry pods in approximately 85 to 90 days. The plants yield a prolific number of 4-inch pods filled with medium red seeds that are easy to shell. This versatile bean is excellent in soups, chili, or baked beans. I discovered this bean growing among Black Turtle Soup beans in the 1970s, and named it accordingly. First listed in the 1980 Seed Savers Exchange yearbook and has since been included by 10 other members in total SSE yearbook history. Red Turtle performs well in both cool and hot summers, making it a reliable choice for various growing conditions.

Red Marbles

Red Marbles is a pole dry bean that was one of several varieties gifted to me by Harriet Mella of Liebenfels, Austria. This bean has an obscure history, with little known about its origin, which adds to its charm and intrigue. Despite the mystery surrounding it, Red Marbles is a unique addition to any garden, embodying the rich legacy of heirloom varieties.

Refugee

Refugee is a semi-runner snap bean with green pods, maturing in 60 days for snaps and 85 days for the first dry seeds. This variety is known by several synonyms, including Brown Speckled Valentine, Improved Refugee, Late Refugee, Late Prolific Refugee, and Round Pod Refugee. Renowned for its strong disease resistance, Refugee was sold by J.M. Thorburn & Company as early as 1822 and became the most popular green pod bush bean in the 1800s. Its widespread cultivation continued well into the 20th century, reflecting its lasting appeal and significance in American gardening history.

Refugee Wax

Refugee Wax is a bush snap bean characterized by its yellow pods and large, spreading plants with numerous runner-like branches. This variety is highly productive and features a long bearing season, making it a valuable addition to any garden. The stringless form of Refugee Wax was selected from a stringy variant by Calvin Keeney who is considered the father of the stingless bean, sometime before 1897, enhancing its culinary appeal and convenience for gardeners seeking a reliable and tasty wax bean. Copy

Rio Zape

Rio Zape is a semi-runner dry bean that matures in 80 days, notable for its green pods that turn purple as they begin to dry. This intriguing variety was reportedly discovered in an Anasazi cliff-dwelling archeological dig in the American southwest, linking it to the rich agricultural history of the region. The beans are prized for their creamy texture and a subtle hint of chocolate flavor, making them a unique and flavorful addition to various culinary dishes.

Robert's Green

Robert's Green is a bush snap bean that matures in 60 days for the first green snaps and 80 days for the initial dry pods. This variety was carefully selected for its longer pods from the Contender and straighter pods from the Provider. The plants reach 14 inches in height and feature attractive pale-lavender blossoms, producing round green pods that measure 4.5 to 5 inches. Developed by Robert Lobitz in 1988, Robert's Green combines desirable traits from its parent varieties, making it a standout choice for snap bean enthusiasts..

Rockwell

Rockwell is a bush dry bean heirloom originating from the Coupeville area of Central Whidbey Island in Washington. Named after the late 1800s pioneer Elisha Rockwell, who brought it from Maine, this bean has remained a favorite in homestead gardens for over a century. It is renowned for its ability to germinate in cool soil and mature early, coupled with exceptional flavor. Classified as a "cassoulet" type bean, Rockwell maintains its shape while cooking up creamy and rich, making it a delightful ingredient in a variety of dishes.

Rode Soldatenboon

Rode Soldatenboon, known as the Red Soldier Bean in English, is a bush dry bean originally sourced from a gardener in the Netherlands. This variety is distinctive due to its heavier seeds compared to many soldier beans grown in the U.S., featuring an additional pink coloration in the eye figure. The uniqueness of Rode Soldatenboon makes it an intriguing addition for gardeners and cooks seeking to explore diverse heirloom beans.

Romance

Pole Lima. Romance is a relative new comer in the bean world. However it is a stable variety. Born in 2011 in the gardens of Curt Burroughs in southeastern Iowa when it showed up in a grow out of Christmas lima. The previous year to 2011 Curt raised only two limas in his garden. They were Christmas and a bush lima called Phebe Vinson. So since Romance showed up the following year it is likely that Romance is a cross of these two limas. There is always an outside chance that it is a mutation of Christmas. In the early years in the life of Romance Curt and his wife used the bean in chili and a German recipe with beans and rice. The bean is beautiful and very productive.

Rose Creek Beauty

Rose Creek Beauty is a bush snap bean known for its large plants that produce impressive 6-inch long green pods. This variety was introduced and named by the late Robert Lobitz, reflecting his dedication to preserving and promoting heirloom beans. Its robust growth and appealing pod size make it a delightful choice for gardeners seeking a productive and flavorful addition to their vegetable plots.

Rosie Clare

Rosie Claire is a pole lima bean that takes 106 days to produce its first dry pods, characterized by large pods and seeds reminiscent of Christmas. These highly productive plants thrive in my Zone 5 climate, yielding most of their seed crop within this region. Initially traded among Seed Savers Exchange (SSE) members in the 1990s, Rosie Claire disappeared from circulation until the passing of SSE member Tom Knoche in 2013. Fortunately, Curt Burroughs of Memphis, Missouri, and friend Glenn Drowns of Sandhill Preservation Center discovered the seeds in Tom's freezer seed collection, allowing this valuable heirloom variety to be revived for future generations.

Rotebeerbohne

Rotebeerbohne is a bush dry bean known for its impressive productivity and hardy 14-inch tall plants. Each plant yields 5-inch long green pods that contain 4 to 5 beans. This outstandingly beautiful European heirloom was sourced from Susan Alex of Willich, Germany, in 2019. The beans are smooth and shiny, featuring a deep rose/burgundy color with delicate pink flecking and a slightly jelly bean shape, making them an attractive addition to any garden and culinary endeavor.

Rotekugelbohne

Rotekugelbohne is a pole dry bean known for its prolific production of short 4.5-inch pods, each containing 5 to 7 small red beans roughly the size of currant berries. This rare European bean is quite uncommon, making it a unique find for gardeners and bean enthusiasts seeking to diversify their collections with heirloom varieties. Its compact pods and vibrant red beans not only contribute to its charm but also offer potential for flavorful culinary applications.

Sacre Bleu

Sacre Bleu is a semi-runner dry bean known for its striking lavender blossoms and high productivity. Originally cultivated by Lisa Bloodnick of Apalachin, New York, this variety stemmed from a German bean called Dwarf Blue, which exhibited inconsistent characteristics. After years of careful selection, Lisa succeeded in stabilizing the bean's traits, resulting in a stunning dark blue bean that produces an abundance of beautifully straight 5-inch pods. After harvest, the beans will darken within about a month to an almost black-blue hue, enhancing their visual appeal and culinary potential.

San Antonio

San Antonio is a versatile pole bean that can be enjoyed as a snap when young, as a shelly bean when the beans are still soft in their pods, and as a dry bean when fully mature. This adaptable bean variety is preserved by Garden Organic in the UK as part of their Heritage Seed Library, emphasizing its importance as a heritage crop. Its multifaceted use in the kitchen makes it an excellent choice for gardeners seeking to maximize their harvest while enjoying a rich connection to traditional seed-saving practices.

San Stephano Borlotto d’Aveto

San Stephano Borlotto d'Aveto is a pole dry bean that can grow vines up to 8 feet tall, producing 5-inch slightly curved pods adorned with burgundy streaks. Each pod contains large borlotto (cranberry) type beans, prized for their flavor and culinary versatility. This variety was brought to North America by Joseph Simcox, a world traveler and rare seed collector. The name San Stephano possibly pays homage to a church in Aveto, Italy. Reflecting Italy's rich cultural heritage and connection to traditional agriculture.

Sailor

The Sailor is an early bush dry bean that grows compactly without the need for runners. Its productive plants, reaching heights of 18 to 20 inches, feature delicate pink blossoms. The six-inch pods typically contain 4 to 6 seeds each. This unique bean is part of John Withee's Wanigan collection, though the source of the bean remains undocumented by Mr. Withee.

Schokoflecken

The Schokoflecken is a bush dry bean ideally suited for cooking in dishes like soups, stews, or as a tasty side. Its German name translates to "chocolate spots," reflecting its unique appearance. The plants grow to a height of 20 inches and produce 5 to 6-inch pods that house stunning oval, rounded white beans, each featuring a striking red area around the eye, mottled with a pinkish hue. Known for its high productivity, this bean's seeds were sourced from Cordula Metzger in Labenz, Germany, in 2017.

Selugia

The Selugia is a pole dry bean obtained from the New Zealand Bean Project, believed to have been introduced to New Zealand by a returning serviceman after the war. Although now recognized as a New Zealand heritage bean, it is likely of Italian origin, reflecting a fascinating blend of cultural influences.

Seminole

Seminole is a bush snap bean characterized by its upright growth, eliminating the need for runners. With a harvesting time of 65 days for snap beans and 101 days for the first dry seeds, it was bred by the Everglades Experiment Station in Belle Glade, Florida, and released in 1955. These beans produce smooth, round green pods measuring 5.25 by 5/16 inches, boasting a distinct beany flavor. As the pods dry, they wrinkle and constrict around the seeds. The Seminole exhibits resistance to various strains of rust, mildew, and mosaic, and is the result of a multiple crosses between Corbett Refugee, Great Northern, Black Valentine, Commodore, and Greenpod beans.