Bean Seeds (Heirloom)

Heirloom beans are a popular and easy-to-grow crop for home vegetable gardens, whether fresh or dried, shelled or whole. Beans are easy to grow, generate a lot of pods, and can help to replenish nitrogen in the soil. Furthermore, beans are so nutritious that the most recent dietary guidelines propose that we increase our weekly intake from one to three cups!

Growing heirloom beans in your garden

  • 37 heirloom bean seed varieties
  • Very simple to grow and do well on most gardens and soil types
  • Best if sown outdoors after the last spring frost
  • Prefers full sun exposure

Growing heirloom beans in your garden

  • 37 heirloom bean seed varieties
  • Very simple to grow and do well on most gardens and soil types
  • Best if sown outdoors after the last spring frost
  • Prefers full sun exposure

Types of heirloom beans

Choose from pole, bush, or runner varieties for a must-have heirloom vegetable in the garden. Pole beans take up very little space in the yard and can be grown along a fence or other vertical structure. Beans come in a rainbow of colors, including green, yellow, purple, and red.

Heirloom beans are the seeds of a variety of flowering plants in the Fabaceae family that are used as both human and animal food. They may be prepared in a variety of ways, including boiling, frying, and baking, and are used in many traditional cuisines around the world. The word "bean" has been used in West Germanic languages since before the 12th century. After interaction between Europe and the Americas during the Columbian era, the word was expanded to include pod-borne seeds of Phaseolus, such as the common bean and the runner bean, as well as the related genus Vigna. Coffee beans have long been mistaken for other seeds with similar shapes, such as Old World soybeans, peas, various vetches, and lupins, as well as those with merely a passing resemblance, such as coffee beans, vanilla beans, castor beans, and cocoa beans. As a result, the term "bean" can refer to a variety of things.

The ideal growing conditions for heirloom beans

Heirloom beans are a summer crop, so they require warm weather to grow and thrive. From planting to harvest, the average maturation time is 55 to 60 days. Bean plants are vines that need to be supported from the outside. Native Americans used to grow them alongside squash and maize, with the cornstalks acting as a support system for the beans. You may have heard of the three sisters, which relates to the aforementioned harmonic trio.

There are a plethora of bean kinds to pick from. Choosing your variety is sometimes the most difficult aspect. However, once you've chosen your beans, appropriate planting is essential. If you're new to growing beans, do your homework on each type before planting to ensure you're providing the right environment and care.

For more information about planting, growing, and caring for beans, see out Bean Seeds Planting Guides: Pole Beans, Bush Beans, Fava Beans, Edamame Beans