Beans

The Seed Exchange - (aka Amish Knuttle) Cut short-type bean packed with small square seeds that are white speckled with rose. Prized for delicious flavor despite strings. Also excellent as a dry bean. Pole habit, snap or dry, 100 days. It is said these beans came over with the Pilgrims but it’s more likely they were gifted by Native Americans.  Pole bean Square white seeds speckled with rose Delicious flavor despite strings Excellent as a dry bean Snap or dry bean 100 days   Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors after the danger of frost has passed and soil and air temperatures have warmed. Harvest snap beans frequently for increased yields. Leave some pods on the vine and harvest when completely mature for dry beans. Direct Seed 2" apart Plant 1" deep Support using Trellis, tepee, or fencing 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)

Northeaster Pole Bean -  Romano bean with buttery flavor and hearty texture. Northeaster is consistently one of the earliest pole beans in our trials and is well-suited to short seasons. Flattened, pale green pods on tall, vigorous vines. Quick to harvest as beans are easy to distinguish from the foliage. Re-discovered by Rob Johnston of Johnny's Selected Seeds. White seeds. These beans tend to keep producing and are named for cold winds that blow off the Atlantic Ocean. They can handle cooler weather better than most beans but still do not like frost so plant after the potential for frost is gone.  Very early 7-8" flattened pods Open-Pollinated 8-10’ vines Short season bean 1 oz of seeds Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors after 2-3 weeks of last frost as beans do like the ground to be warmer. Plan to support with trellis or stakes, even though it is a bush bean, the plant likes the extra support.  Direct Seed 2" apart Planting Depth 1" Plant 36-48" apart

The Seed Savers Exchange - also knowns as Bicolor Runner, Painted Runner. Friar Antonio de Arrabida described this species in Flora of Rio de Janeiro in 1827. Incredibly beautiful bi-colored blossoms are very attractive to hummingbird moths. This strain is less affected by warmer temperatures than other runner beans and is a prolific bloomer. Esteemed as both an ornamental and edible climber. Pole habit, 68 days. ±450 seeds/lb.  Characteristics:  Bi-colored blossoms attract hummingbirds Beans are black and speckled with tan edges Esteemed as both an ornamental and edible climber Tolerates heat Pole bean 68 days ±450 seeds/lb 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

Seed Exchange - Lovely waxy and golden beans that seem to go on forever. The beans are very productive and can be used in fresh eating, cooked, frozen and canned.  Bush bean Wax bean with delicious flavor Stringless pods 5-7 inch long pods 50-65 days 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" Rows 36-48" apart

Potawatomi Lima Bean - A vigorous and heavy producer. In our zone 4 garden we plenty to eat and plenty to raise for seed.   If you want to try limas for the first time, this would be one of my top choices. We grow this variety in our heirloom gardens at Firefly Farm & Mercantile in Cashton, Wisconsin.  The Potawatomi lima was stewarded by the Potawatomi Nations of southern Michigan. They are one of the top limas for the north. They can be braised, boiled, or sauted fresh. They always provide us with creamy and delicious dishes.   Characteristics:  Good for the North and Great for the South Prolific producer Pole Lima bean 85 days for eating, 105 for dried 10 or 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

The standard fresh market variety for green beans. High Mowing Organic Seeds - Provider comes through every year with early, heavy yields of attractive, uniform beans. Plants are vigorous and productive with strong root systems, even under adverse conditions. Good resistance to mildew and virus. Purple seeds. 5-6" pods Open-Pollinated Stringless 1 ounce of seeds 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 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 varieties so please check back often at Seeds - Vegetables (fireflyfarmandmercantile.com)

Seed Exchange - Plants of this historic variety climb vigorously to 6' to show off an abundance of reddish-purple pods that are high-quality, hearty, and stringless. The pods grow 5-7"-long and turn to light green when cooked. Henry Field discovered this variety in an Ozarks garden in the 1930s. Conventional Pole beans Snap bean Reddish Purple, stringless pods 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

High Mowing Organic Seeds - Large, medium- to late-maturing beans with delicious creamy flavor. The first pinto variety with genetic resistance to BCM and CTV, bred in collaboration with Washington State University. Susceptible to Rust. Speckled tan seeds. Very high-yielding pinto ideal for slow-cooking and canning.  Characteristics: Organic, non-GMO, and open-pollinated  Upright bush habit  High disease resistance  106 days to bloom  Instructions - Beans only require average fertility and prefer pH in the 6.0 - 6.8 range. Choose well-drained, warm soils and use inoculants to increase yields where natural Rhizobia populations are low. The optimal soil temperature for germination is 75-95°F. Beans are particularly sensitive to cool soils and are prone to rot if temperatures are below 55°F. Harvest early and often to increase yields. Remove oversized beans to maintain pod production. Dry beans are harvested once in the fall when plants are drying down. Dry further in cool, dry conditions prior to long-term storage. Beans are ready for storage when the seed coat can not be dented by a fingernail. Store beans in a cool dry place.  Sow 1-2" Deep Plant 2-3" apart  Space 28-36" apart in rows  Days to maturity are from direct seeding after frost danger has passed  Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of the availability

The Romano Bush Bean by The Living Seed Company This frost-sensitive, true flat, Romano bush bean is a delight to grow and eat!  This heavy producing variety offers rich, fleshy, medium pods with beautiful white beans inside.  Pods reach about 5" and are slow to develop seeds. The seeds can be also used at the green shelling stage or allowed to remain on the plants until fully matured and harvested as a dry bean. Resistant to CBMV, NY15. Organic Stringless Bush Bean 12-20" tall 65 days 40 seeds Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors after 2-3 weeks of last frost as beans do like the ground to be warmer. Direct Seed 1-5" apart Planting Depth 1/2 -1" Thin 3-5" apart Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability

Seed Exchange - Bred at the University of New Hampshire by the late Professor Elwyn Meader. Introduced by the Billy Hepler Seed Company in 1957. Distinctive purple foliage and purple flowers. Bright purple, stringless, slightly curved 5" pods turn green when cooked. Germinates well even in cold wet soil. Pole bean Open-Pollinated Purple pods, flowers, and foliage Germinates well in cold wet soil Snap bean 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 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 varieties so please check back often at Seeds - Vegetables (fireflyfarmandmercantile.com)

Scarlet Runner Beans, like all runner beans, they prefer cool nights and cooler days so it tends to do better as a fresh eating bean in environments like New England or the Pacific Northwests along the coasts. We grow it every year for ourselves to harvest as dried beans and to enjoy the hummingbirds flying around. We do not get the privilege of tender runner beans in our part of Wisconsin.   We plant it every 4-6"  The Seed Savers Exchange - One of the oldest runner beans in existence. Already well-known in 1735 according to The Gardener’s Dictionary by English botanist Philip Miller; listed in America as early as 1806 by McMahon. Used for ornamental purposes or as a vegetable: small snap pods or green shell beans. Can substitute for limas in cooler climates. Pole habit, 65 days. ±450 seeds/lb. 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 65 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

 Firefly Farm & Mercantile -  Sieva Lima, aka Carolina Lima or Small White Lima. This lima is our most popular lima we offer. Folks love the rich butter bean flavor. The vines will reach 10' and on our 6' fence we tend to trim them to 7' so it spurs them into bean production a little quicker since our farm is in a valley. Our stock will be limited in 2026 as we partner with small farms to grow the stock we need to meet our gardeners' needs. The cool nights help to ripen the seed so it is happy up north but must be started right away once it is warm enough. Sieva is very productive and those in zones 6-10 will enjoy long harvests while those in zones 5 and cooler  weather will need to maximize their harvest by ensuring proper watering and excellent soil for them to grow in.  Characteristics:  Good for the North and Great for the South Most Popular Lima We Offer Pole Lima bean Small white seeds 75 - 90 days 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

This is another Runner Bean we love - Sunset Runner Bean - It is productive and produces large beans each year to we can eat fresh, frozen, or dried.  The Seed Savers Exchange - A flowering bean with unique salmon-pink blossoms; esteemed as a vegetable or as an ornamental climber. Produces abundant crops of flavorful beans throughout the season. Excellent for freezing. Pole habit, 60-65 days. ±450 seeds/lb. Characteristics:  Salmon-pink blossoms Beans are black and speckled with purple edges Ornamental and edible Highly productive Pole bean 60-65 days ±450 seeds/lb 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

We only have 2024 stock. In early January more arrives.  The Living Seed Company - Calvin Keeney introduced this variety in 1922. This bush bean is a heavy yielder, even in hot temperatures and produces over an extended season.  The plants are vigorous, upright (no staking) and low maintenance.  Be prepared for lots of stringless, meaty, 6" pods of delicious, tender green beans.  This all purpose variety is great fresh, steamed, in casseroles, soups or stir fries, amazing pickled and perfect for freezing.  It is also a wonderful shelling bean having purple seeds with beige accents. Can be left to dry on the plant for a pretty dry bean. Organic Stringless Bush Bean 12-24" tall 50-75 days 50 seeds Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors after 2-3 weeks of last frost as beans do like the ground to be warmer. Direct Seed 1-5" apart Planting Depth 1/2 -1" Thin 3-5" apart Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability

Tiger's Eye Bush Bean - One we like to grow every few years as it is excellent when cooked freshed.  The Seed Exchange - Originally from Chile or Argentina. Wonderfully rich flavor and smooth texture. Very tender skins almost disappear when cooked. Great for chili or refried beans. Can also be used as fresh shell beans. Productive 24" plants. Bush habit, shell or dry, 80-90 days. ±650 seeds/lb. Bush habit Rich flavor and smooth texture Shell or dry bean 80-90 days 50 Seeds per pack Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors after the danger of frost has passed and soil and air temperatures have warmed. Harvest snap beans frequently for increased yields. Leave some pods on the vine and harvest when completely mature for dry beans. Direct Seed 2" Apart Plant 1" deep Rows Apart: 36-48" 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)

The Seed Exchange -  Collected in regions of Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee, this variety’s original seed is reported to have been found in a wild turkey’s craw. As they mature, the stringless 6" pods enclose attractive brown seeds with tan flecks and brown eye rings. Used as a snap bean or a dry bean; excellent canned or frozen. From the Wanigan Associates Collection organized by the late John Withee. Pole habit, snap or dry, 80-100 days. ±1,100 seeds/lb. Pole bean Open-Pollinated Stringless pods Brown beans with tan flecks Snap or dry bean 80-100 days 50 Seeds per packet Instructions -  Sow seeds outdoors after the danger of frost has passed and soil and air temperatures have warmed. Harvest snap beans frequently for increased yields. Leave some pods on the vine and harvest when completely mature for dry beans. Direct Seed 2" apart Plant 1" deep Support using Trellis, tepee, or fencing Full sun  We are always adding new varieties so please check back often at Seeds - Vegetables (fireflyfarmandmercantile.com)