Mayflower Bean, Heirloom 1500's, Cut-short Bean

The story of the Mayflower bean is woven into the early agricultural history of the American continent.

• Indigenous Roots & Heritage: Long before appearing in colonial records, cut-short beans were grown and refined by Native American farmers who mastered the art of companion planting and seed saving. The name "Mayflower" is largely a historical moniker reflecting its early colonial-era presence, honoring the resilient strains passed down through generations.
• The Cut-Short Tradition: "Cut-short" beans were historically treasured because their tight-packed pods yield an unusually high concentration of seeds per inch of pod space, making them remarkably efficient for small-garden production and winter bean storage.

Mayflower beans are a delight both on the vine and in traditional homestyle cooking.

• The Pods & Seeds: The slender, crisp pods are harvested young as tender green snap beans. Left to mature on the vine, they produce distinctively crowded, square-ended seeds that feature a lovely cream background splashed with deep reddish-brown markings.
• Flavor & Texture: As a snap bean, they are crisp, meaty, and flavorful. As a dry or shell bean, they hold their shape wonderfully in soups, stews, and traditional baked bean dishes, offering a rich, satisfying texture.
• The Habit: This is a vigorous pole bean that loves to climb, creating a lush, productive wall of green foliage and abundant clusters of pods.

Mayflower is a vigorous vining climber that requires vertical support and rewards the grower with a bountiful harvest.

"Mayflower is a living piece of agricultural history. We love it because when you pick the pods and see those tightly crowded, square-ended seeds, you feel connected to the generations of gardeners—from Indigenous cultivators to early homesteaders—who kept this variety alive. It’s a vigorous climber that produces heavily, and whether you eat them as crisp green snap beans or save them as dry beans for winter chili, they never disappoint."

• Provide Strong Support: Because these are vigorous pole beans, set up sturdy bean towers, trellises, or poles before planting so the vines have plenty of room to climb.
• Direct Sowing: Sow seeds 1 inch deep in warm soil after all danger of frost has passed. Pole beans do not transplant well, so direct sowing is always best.
• Harvest Regularly: For crisp snap beans, harvest frequently while pods are tender. If you want dry beans for winter storage, leave the pods on the vine until they turn brown and brittle at the end of the season.