Seychelles Pole Bean, Organic options availble

The Seychelle Pole Bean is a triumph of modern horticultural breeding, developed by Peterborough-based breeders in the United Kingdom. While many pole beans are ancient heirlooms, Seychelle was bred to solve the common frustrations of the home gardener: low disease resistance and "stringy" pods.

It stepped into the global spotlight in 2017, when it earned the All-America Selections (AAS) National Award. Judges across North America were impressed by its "hybrid vigor," noting that it outperformed older varieties in both taste and productivity. It represents the "new generation" of garden classics—maintaining the old-fashioned, rich bean flavor of a heritage variety while incorporating the robust health and high-yield genetics of modern breeding.

• 2017 AAS Winner: Extensively trialed and proven to be one of the best performing pole beans in North America.
• Gourmet Filet Quality: Produces straight, dark-green pods that are slender and tender, comparable to the finest French beans.
• Disease Resistant: Highly resistant to Bean Common Mosaic Virus (BCMV), ensuring a healthy crop even in challenging conditions.
• Vigorous Climber: Quickly covers a trellis or bean teepee, producing clusters of pods at every node for a continuous harvest.
• Totally Stringless: Even when the beans get a bit larger, they maintain a crisp, snap-bean texture without any tough strings.

1. When to Plant:
Beans are heat-loving plants. Direct sow seeds outdoors only after the soil has warmed to at least 65°F and all danger of frost has passed.

2. Trellising (Essential):
As a true pole bean, Seychelle must have vertical support.

• Options: Use a cattle panel, a sturdy fence, or a "tripod" made of bamboo stakes.
• Installation: Set up your support before planting to avoid damaging the delicate roots of the seedlings later.

3. Sowing the Seeds:

• Sow seeds 1 inch deep.
• Space seeds 3 inches apart along the base of your trellis.
• Tip: Do not soak bean seeds before planting, as this can lead to poor germination; simply keep the soil moist until they sprout.

4. Maintenance:

• Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, especially once the plants begin to flower. Always water at the base of the plant to keep the foliage dry.
• Mulching: A layer of straw around the base helps retain moisture and keeps the roots cool during the heat of mid-summer.

5. Harvesting:
For the best gourmet quality, harvest the pods when they are about 5 inches long and the seeds inside are not yet visible.

• The Golden Rule: The more you harvest, the more the plant will produce! Check your vines every 2 days during the peak of the season.

Seychelle beans are so tender and sweet they can be eaten raw as a garden snack. In the kitchen, they are best when lightly blanched or sautéed in olive oil with garlic. Because they are so uniform in size, they look stunning when served whole on the plate.

Garden Tip: Pole beans like Seychelle produce over a much longer season than bush beans. While a bush bean crop might finish in 3 weeks, Seychelle will keep producing until the first frost as long as you keep picking! 🧺🌿