Abenaki True Cranberry Pole Bean, Native American Heirloom
from $2.00
Abenaki True Cranberry Pole Bean - A beautiful bean that excels for baking and slow cooking. They are exquisite as fresh shelled bean but are excellent as a dry bean. Young pods can be eaten as a snap bean.
Cranberry pole beans are from the Abenaki Nation and was a very common garden vegetable for colonists. This bean escaped the commercialization of our agricultural system but it was widespread for gardeners from seed catalogs. Some of the earliest references are from the 1800's with Thornburg's 1829 Seed Catalog referencing cranberry beans. The earliest seed catalogs identify many of the cranberry's being crimson with mottling of white. This cranberry from John Withee's collection he donated to Seedavers in 1981 is a true red though it will produce mottled beans from time to time. John read about the Cranberry Beam in a 1796 American Cookery Book and went on the hunt. He found it 11 years later growing on Mr. Taylor's farm in Steep Falls, Maine.
Pole bean
Open-Pollinated
High Producing
Dry, Shelling bean (snap when young)
85 days
Grown at Firefly
Instructions -
Sow seeds outdoors after the danger of frost has passed and soil and air temperatures have warmed. Harvest frequently for increased yields.
Direct Seed 3-4" apart, we like to thin to 6-8"
Plant 1" deep
Plant Rows 36-48" apart if doing rows.
Full sun
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability
We are always adding new varieties so please check back often at Seeds - Vegetables (fireflyfarmandmercantile.com)
Alabama Black Eye Lima Bean, Pole Butterbean, 1837 Heirloom
from $2.00
Alabama Black Eye Lima Bean - A solid producer with excellent taste. The bean is white with a black eye around the hilum which is where its name comes from. We grow this variety in our heirloom gardens at Firefly Farm & Mercantile in Cashton, Wisconsin.
This one can be traced to the 1830's in seed catalogs and specifically in 1837 of the David Landreth & Sons' Rural Register and Almanac is where Black Eye Lima is mentioned. Later in 1840 the added Alabama is mentioned in a later edition. David Landreth & Sons is a historic seed company from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Our source seed is from Southern Exposure Seed Exchange.
Characteristics:
Solid producer
Pole Lima bean
75-80 days for eating, 100 for dried
We offer it in minipacks or packs of 25.
Instructions:
Lima beans thrive in hot temperatures. Sow seeds outdoors after the danger of frost has passed and soil and air temperatures have warmed. Seeds will germinate in 7-18 days. Limas prefer full sun.
Direct Seed 2-3" apart or 6" apart if you want to skip thinning. We hold a few seeds back in case we have any gaps. Ultimately we let them have 8-12" of space between plantings
Planting Depth 1"
Rows Apart: 48-72" or we just run them down our fence line.
Full Sun
Alabama Black Lima Bean, Butterbean, Alabama Heirloom, Rare
from $2.00
Supplies are limited and orders have started pouring in so we have this variety on hold until we pack up more.
Alabama Black Butterbeans
Alabama Black Butterbean history is tied to a farmer named Sam Reid of Blount County, Alabama. He offered this seed in 1995 and placed an ad in the Alabama Farmers Bulletin. Bill Peters of Alabaster, Al answered the ad and obtained this cool seed. I lived in the neighboring town in the mid 2000's, Chelsea, Alabama and this is where I first tried and heard the name - Alabama Black Butterbeans.
I never did get any seeds as life gets crazy and years later I regretted it. It was always in the back of my mind to find these seeds. The seeds were found and amazingly hyper local as my friend Craig (of Hillsboro, WI) actually had this seed and shared some with me as he obtained seeds years prior. I grew my first crop in 2025 and boy did it ever flourish
We are lucky to have one of the rarest heirlooms in our collection.
Characteristics:
Good for the North and Great for the South
Rarear Popular Lima We Offer
Pole Lima bean
Medium sized black seeds
85 days for eating, 105 for dried
25 seeds or enough to do 10-12' of fence.
Instructions:
Lima beans thrive in hot temperatures. Sow seeds outdoors after the danger of frost has passed and soil and air temperatures have warmed. Seeds will germinate in 7-18 days. Limas prefer full sun.
Direct Seed 2-3" apart or 6" apart if you want to skip thinning. We hold a few seeds back in case we have any gaps.
Planting Depth 1"
Rows Apart: 48-72" or we just run them down our fence line.
Full Sun
Antigua Bush Bean, Organic
$3.75
$3.90
Impressive yields of beautiful dark green pods on widely adapted plants.
The darkest green bush bean of any variety we saw in our trials. Very upright, 18” tall plants offer excellent disease resistance and form a plethora of uniform pods that are suitable for mechanical harvests. Developed for the processing industry to offer commercial yields of beans that are good for blanching. From our partners at PureLine Seeds. White seeds. Approx. 168 seeds/oz.
Suitable for mechanical harvest
5” pods
Open-Pollinated
Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors after the danger of frost has passed and soil and air temperatures have warmed. Harvest dry beans when the pods are completely mature and dry.
Direct Seed 2" apart
Planting Depth 1"
Plant Rows Apart 36"-48"
Disease Resistance DetailsHigh Resistance: Anthracnose, Bean Common Mosaic VirusIntermediate Resistance: Halo Blight
Firefly Farm may substitute seed vendors based on availablity.
Arikara Yellow Bush Bean, pre-1800’s Heirloom
from $3.25
$4.25
Seed Exchange - Seeds were originally obtained from the Arikara tribe of North Dakota and introduced in Oscar Will’s Pioneer Indian Collection of seeds (1914). Yellow-tan seeds with red-brown eye rings. Excellent for use as a baking bean. Prolific plants, good drought tolerance. Bush habit, dry, 80-90 days
Bush beans
Yellow-tan seeds with red-brown eye ring
Good drought tolerance
Excellent used as a baking bean
Dry bean
80-90 days
50 seeds
Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors after danger of frost has passed and soil and air temperatures have warmed. Harvest dry beans when the pods are completely mature and dry.
Direct Seed 2" apart
Planting Depth 1"
Plant Rows Apart 36"-48"
Aubrey Deanne Lima Bean, Pole Butterbean, pre-1890 Heirloom
from $2.00
Aubrey Deanne Lima Bean - A wonderfully delicious and productive lima. We grow this variety in our heirloom gardens at Firefly Farm & Mercantile in Cashton, Wisconsin.
Aubrey Deanna Butterbeans are recorded from Green County, VA before 1890. Our initial seedstock came from Southern Exposure and Seedsavers Exchange. The history is a bit scarce on this one so we welcome any stories or interesting tidbits on this precious heirloom
Characteristics:
Prized for its disease resistance
Heavy Yields
Prolific producer
Pole Lima bean
75-80 days for eating, 100 for dried
We offer it in minipacks or packs of 25.
Instructions:
Lima beans thrive in hot temperatures. Sow seeds outdoors after the danger of frost has passed and soil and air temperatures have warmed. Seeds will germinate in 7-18 days. Limas prefer full sun.
Direct Seed 2-3" apart or 6" apart if you want to skip thinning. We hold a few seeds back in case we have any gaps.
Planting Depth 1"
Rows Apart: 48-72" or we just run them down our fence line.
Full Sun
Bert Dean's Baking Bean, 1897 Heirloom
$4.00
$4.25
The Seed Exchange - This bean’s longtime steward—Stephen Deane of Wayne, Maine—described it as “the finest variety of large, white baking bean that anyone here has ever had.” Ideal for baking and making soup, the kidney-shaped bean (developed by Stephen’s Uncle Bert) has a mild flavor as well as a light, “fluffy” texture and cooks quickly. Plants reach 1-1.5' tall and mature mid-season; each pod has 4-5 seeds and measures 5-6" long when fully expanded. Bush habit, dry. 80 days to dry beans. Organic.
From the Collection for 2022
Organic
Bush bean
White kidney-shaped bean
Light "fluffy" texture cooks quickly
Dry bean
Bush habit
80 days
Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors after the danger of frost has passed and soil and air temperatures have warmed. Harvest dry beans when the pods are completely mature and dry.
Direct Seed: 2" Apart
Seed Depth: 1"
Rows Apart: 36-48"
Light: Full Sun
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability
We are always adding new varieties so please check back often at Seeds - Vegetables (fireflyfarmandmercantile.com)
Black Coat Runner Bean, 1600's Heirloom
$4.00
$4.25
The Seed Savers Exchange - Edible? Check! Ornamental? Check! Heirloom? Check! This unique runner bean produces sturdy 6-7’ vines that bear both vivid scarlet blooms and flavorful beans that are edible at the immature pod stage (like a green bean) and at the mature stage (like a kidney bean). Pretty, plump bean seeds change first from pink to purple, and finally to a glossy, ebony black. Dating back to the mid-1600s, this variety was first recorded by German botanist Michael Titius in his Catalogues Plantarum. 75 days.
Characteristics:
Scarlet blossoms
Beans mature to black and speckled mauve
Used for ornamental purposes or as small snap pods or green shell beans
Pole bean
75 days
25 seeds per packet
Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors after the danger of frost has passed and soil and air temperatures have warmed. Runner beans prefer full sun, although they tolerate part shade very well. Young pods can be eaten whole, or the beans can be eaten fresh or dried. Even the flowers are edible.
Direct Seed 2" apart
Seed Depth: 1"
Rows Apart: 24-36"
Support: Trellis, tepee, or netting
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability
Black Valentine Bush Bean, 1897 Heirloom
from $3.25
$4.25
The Seed Exchange - Introduced in 1897 by Peter Henderson & Company. Shiny black seeds in 6" pods. A great dual-purpose variety, use for fresh snap beans or dry soup beans. Prolific and dependable. Tolerant of cool temperatures. Bush habit, snap or dry, 50-55 days. ±1,300 seeds/lb.
Bush bean
Black seeds
Prolific and dependable
Cool-weather tolerant
Snap or dry bean
50-55 days
50 Seeds per packet
Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors after the danger of frost has passed and soil and air temperatures have warmed. Harvest dry beans when the pods are completely mature and dry.
Direct Seed: 2" Apart
Seed Depth: 1"
Rows Apart: 36-48"
Light: Full Sun
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability
We are always adding new varieties so please check back often at Seeds - Vegetables (fireflyfarmandmercantile.com)
Blue Coco Pole Bean, 1775 French Heirloom
from $3.00
$4.00
Blue Coco Pole Bean or Coco Bleu de Louviers is a vigorous and high producing pole bean. Its tender and sweet beans are a hit when eating fresh, cooked as a snap bean or saved as a dry bean for soups and other dishes. Blue Coco has been documented as early as 1775 in France. Its purple blue beans also are a knockout in the yard and garden because of their bold color. This is a kid favorite for its juicy and sweet pods as much as it is for the color. We grow this each year to offer as seeds. The dried seeds are a light brown in color. This bean is grown at Firefly Farm in our hierloom production garden.
Pole bean
Open-Pollinated
High Producing
Snap bean
60 days
Grown at Firefly
Instructions -
Sow seeds outdoors after the danger of frost has passed and soil and air temperatures have warmed. Harvest frequently for increased yields.
Direct Seed 3-4" apart, we like to thin to 6-8"
Plant 1" deep
Plant Rows 36-48" apart if doing rows.
Full sun
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability
We are always adding new varieties so please check back often at Seeds - Vegetables (fireflyfarmandmercantile.com)
Blue Lake Bush Snap Bean, Organic
$3.50
$3.75
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange - A vigorous bush-producing round straight pods with fine flavor. Prolific. Resistant to bean mosaic virus. 15-18 in. plant with mostly stringless 6-8 in. pods. Excellent for freezing or canning.
Certified Organic
Heirloom
Especially well-suited to the South-East, popular from coast to coast.
Snap Bean
1 oz, ~50 seeds
Instructions - Peppering seeds with inoculants before sowing helps ensure good growth. Beans may benefit from a source of soluble nitrogen (if your soil is low in nitrogen) during the first 3 weeks until nitrogen-fixing nodules develop, but do not apply nitrogen after this period. Dark-seeded beans are more resistant to rotting in cool soil than light-seeded beans. Beans need a minimum soil temperature of 65 degrees F to germinate well, otherwise, seeds may rot. Plant every 3 weeks for a steady supply. For snap beans, pick before seeds fill the pods. Keep well picked so that plants continue to bear.
Well-drained garden soil; do best in soils with pH above 6.0.
After the last frost, plant seeds 1 in. deep
Plant 2 in. apart
Rows: 12-18 in. apart
Thinning: 4 in. apart
Avoid watering the plants in the evening.
Mulch plants to prevent rain from splashing dirt on beans.
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of the availability
Bountiful Bean, 1898 Heirloom, organic available
$4.00
$4.25
Seed Exchange - In 1898 Abel Steele of Ferguson, Ontario won a $25.00 prize for naming this new variety from Peter Henderson & Company, previously known as “New Green Bush Bean No. 1.” Heavy crops of excellent quality, brittle, stringless 6-7" pods. Productive plants grow up to 18" tall. Sprawling bush habit, snap, 45-50 days
Bush bean
Sprawling bush habit
Stringless pods
Extremely productive
Snap bean
45-50 days
50 seeds
Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors after danger of frost has passed and soil and air temperatures have warmed. Harvest frequently for increased yields.
Direct Seed 2" apart
Planting Depth 1"
Trellis, Fence, or Tee-Pee
Rows 36-48" apart
Broad Windsor Fava Bean, 1863 Heirloom, Both Organic & Conventional Available
from $3.25
$4.00
Broad Windsor Fava Beans - A cool season favorite! Fava beans are used all over the world and are incredibly versatile. They are a favorite for us as it is great to start sowing as soon as the ground unfreezes. Typically the soil is 40 degrees for the best time to sow. The plants can withstand freezing temps but to help germinate it is ok to cover to trap some additional heat.
Yes, Grilled Fava Beans are a thing! This heirloom fava bean is a favorite and has stood the test of time. each pod contains 6-8 beans on average. Beans can be prepared in so many ways - fresh beans are often grilled (my personal favorite), steamed or sauted, while dried beans are your in soups, dips, and roasted
Organic or Conventional Available
Bush type Bean (2-4' tall plants so some trellising can be helpful
85 day
Instructions - Fruits must set before temps reach 70 degrees. This variety is often planted whent he ground is workable. It does not need much protection, but any protection will help it grow and set pods faster. In mild climates, plant in the fall or in cold climates, plant whent he soil is workable.
Direct Seed 4-6" apart
Planting Depth 1"
Thin 6" apart
This an easy seed to save too!
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability
Burgundy Wine Lima Bean, Pole Butterbean, Heirloom from Dr. Wyche
from $2.00
Burgundy Wine Lima Bean - Gorgeous lima and a heavy producer. In our zone 4 garden we plenty to eat and plenty to raise for seed. This is a pole lima that excelled for us. We grow this variety in our heirloom gardens at Firefly Farm & Mercantile in Cashton, Wisconsin.
The origin of the Burgundy Wine Lima is of interest for Dr. John Wyche fans. It is thought this was one he raised. The lineage of this seed is not direct but that is part of Seedsaving! Mary Schultz of Monroe, Washington donated to Seedsavers Exchange (where I requested my original seedstock from). She received it from Lloyd Duggins of Indiana. And he received it from Dr. John Wyche is how it is understood. However it came to be, it is a beast of a producer.
Characteristics:
Good for the North and Great for the South
Prolific producer
Pole Lima bean
75-80 days for eating, 100 for dried
We offer it in minipacks or packs of 25.
Instructions:
Lima beans thrive in hot temperatures. Sow seeds outdoors after the danger of frost has passed and soil and air temperatures have warmed. Seeds will germinate in 7-18 days. Limas prefer full sun.
Direct Seed 2-3" apart or 6" apart if you want to skip thinning. We hold a few seeds back in case we have any gaps.
Planting Depth 1"
Rows Apart: 48-72" or we just run them down our fence line.
Full Sun
Burpee's Stringless Green Pod Bush Bean, 1894 Heirloom
from $3.25
$4.25
The Seed Exchange - Introduced in 1894 by W. Atlee Burpee who obtained its stock seed from N. B. Keeney & Son of Genesee County, NY. Burpee proclaimed it the only totally stringless green podded bean. Produces pods that are 5" long. Bush habit, snap, 46-50 days. ±1,100 seeds/lb.
Bush Bean
Stringless pods
Snap bean
46-50 days
50 Seeds per pack
Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors after danger of frost has passed and soil and air temperatures have warmed. Harvest frequently for increased yields.
Direct Seed 2" apart
Plant 1" deep
Plant Rows 36-48" apart
Full Sun
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability
We are always adding new varitities so please check back often at Seeds - Vegetables (fireflyfarmandmercantile.com)
Calypso Bush Bean, Heirloom
from $3.25
$4.25
Seed Exchange - Originally from the Caribbean. One of the best for baking and soups. Round black and white seeds with contrasting eye borne heavily on strong 15" plants. Averages 4-5 seeds per pod. Adapts well to all types of production areas. Bush habit, dry, 70-90 days
Organic
Bush bean
Black and white seeds
Adapts well to all types of production areas
Dry bean
70-90 days
50 seeds
Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors after danger of frost has passed and soil and air temperatures have warmed. Harvest dry beans when the pods are completely mature and dry.
Direct Seed 2" apart
Planting Depth 1"
Rows 36-48" apart
Celine Bush Bean, Organic
$3.75
$5.55
Vibrant, dark to light purple wax beans with contrasting yellow interior.
High Mowing Organic Seeds - Tasty and juicy beans with a strikingly bright, magenta color and wonderful tenderness. These are the first purple wax beans on the market. Plants are healthy producers of uniform beans on robust, bush habit plants. Incredible as a stand-alone bean variety or mixed with other colors for specialty appeal. Brighter and more of a brilliant purple than most other purple bean varieties and tender enough to be enjoyed raw. Developed by Dr. John Hart of EarthWorks Seeds. Light tan seeds. This variety is Plant Variety Protected
Bush beans
Magenta color
4.75-5.5" pods
Open-Pollinated
100
seeds
Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors after the danger of frost has passed and soil and air temperatures have warmed. Harvest dry beans when the pods are completely mature and dry.
Direct Seed 2" apart
Planting Depth 1"
Plant Rows Apart 36"-48"
Disease Resistance DetailsHigh Resistance: Bean Common Mosaic Necrosis Virus (US1)
Firefly Farm may substitute seed vendors based on availablity.
Cherokee Trail of Tears Pole Bean pre-1800’s Heirloom
from $3.25
$4.25
Seed Exchange - Also known as Cherokee Black, the variety is good as both a snap and a dry bean; when mature, the greenish-purple 6” pods encase shiny jet-black seeds. This bean was shared with Seed Savers Exchange by the late Dr. John Wyche of Hugo, Oklahoma. His Cherokee ancestors carried this bean over the Trail of Tears, the infamous winter death march from the Smoky Mountains to Oklahoma (1838-39) that left a trail of 4,000 graves. Pole habit, snap or dry, 85 days.
Pole bean
Black seeds
Green 6 inch pods with purple overlay
Snap or dry bean
85 days
50 seeds
Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors after danger of frost has passed and soil and air temperatures have warmed. Harvest frequently to increase yield. Pods can be left on the vine to mature and then harvested as dry beans.
Direct Seed 2" apart
Planting Depth 1"
Support with trellis, teepee, or fencing
Christmas Pole Lima Bean, 1840 Heirloom
from $3.00
Christmas Lima - Also knowns as Large Speckled Calico, this variety was first cultivated in the United States around 1840 and produces beautiful, quarter-sized, fat white seeds with maroon spots and swirls. It has a rich flavor and can be used as shell lima bean or dry bean. Heavy yields, bears even during extreme heat. Pole habit, 75-100 dys.
Pole bean
Large Maroon and White Speckled Seeds
Performs well in extreme heat
Shelling and Dry bean
75-100 days
50 seeds per packet
Instructions :
Lima beans thrive in hot temperatures. Sow seeds outdoors after the danger of frost has passed and soil and air temperatures have warmed. Seeds will germinate in 7-18 days. Limas prefer full sun.
Direct Seed 2" apart
Planting Depth 1"
Rows Apart: 36-48"
Full Sun
Clemson Red Lima Bean, Pole Butterbean, 1930's Heirloom
from $2.00
Clemson Red Lima Bean - This is probably the heaviest lima for yields per vine. It's dark red limas are delicious and can handle any weather thrown at it. We grow this variety in our heirloom gardens at Firefly Farm & Mercantile in Cashton, Wisconsin.
The origin of the Clemson Red is rooted in Clemson University's agricultural program. This variety was released in the 1930's and gained popularity across the South. Clemson University has been integral in finding and developing crops for the deep south.
Characteristics:
Prized for its disease resistance
Heavy Yields
Prolific producer
Pole Lima bean
75-80 days for eating, 100 for dried
We offer it in minipacks or packs of 25.
Instructions:
Lima beans thrive in hot temperatures. Sow seeds outdoors after the danger of frost has passed and soil and air temperatures have warmed. Seeds will germinate in 7-18 days. Limas prefer full sun.
Direct Seed 2-3" apart or 6" apart if you want to skip thinning. We hold a few seeds back in case we have any gaps.
Planting Depth 1"
Rows Apart: 48-72" or we just run them down our fence line.
Full Sun