drying bean seeds for planting Bean, Bush Dry, 'Rockwell'

drying bean seeds for planting Bean, Bush Dry, 'Rockwell'*Ark of Taste Heirloom* (P. vulgaris) An heirloom from the Coupeville area of Central Whidbey Island in WA, it is named after the late 1800s pioneer Elisha Rockwell, who brought it to the area. Though it never became a commercial crop, the bean has remained popular in homestead gardens for well over a century, renowned for its ability to germinate in cool soil, its early maturity, and its outstanding flavor. The beans are creamy white with a mottled

*Ark of Taste Heirloom*
(P. vulgaris) An heirloom from the Coupeville area of Central Whidbey Island in WA, it is named after the late 1800’s pioneer Elisha Rockwell, who brought it to the area. Though it never became a commercial crop, the bean has remained popular in homestead gardens for well over a century, renowned for its ability to germinate in cool soil, its early maturity, and its outstanding flavor. The beans are creamy-white with a mottled burgundy spot around the hilum and are great for most dishes, but are especially known for making terrific baked beans. We prefer it topped with good olive oil in which a few cloves of garlic and some rosemary have been marinating. Add salt, some fresh cherry tomatoes, and a handful of spinach or arugula, and you have a lovely meal! 
Our seed stock came from the folks at Willowood Farm in Coupeville, who have been working to popularize this local treasure. A first-rate, productive dry bean for our maritime climate. Very rare and recently boarded on the Slowfood USA Ark. 
80 days. UO

Packet: 1oz (~85 seeds)

[split]

Growing Info

SOWING:

Direct seed after the last frost date when the soil has warmed. 

Note: Beans prefer well-drained, warm soil.

PLANTING DEPTH:

1"

SPACING:

3-5" between plants with 12-24" between rows*

*Pole beans require 5+' between rows.

EMERGENCE:

5-10 days @ soil temp 65-90F

LIGHT:

Full sun to part shade

FERTILITY:

Light to Moderate. Beans can produce their own usable nitrogen from atmospheric nitrogen through a symbiotic relationship with bacteria that colonize specialized nodules in their roots. Too much soil fertility can cause excessive vegetative growth at the expense of pod set and maturity.
Beans prefer well-drained warm soil with a pH between 6.0-7.0.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

Beans prefer warm soils and may rot at lower temperatures. This is particularly true for white-seeded varieties. You love beans. Patience.

It can be quite beneficial to mix bean seeds with commercially available bacterial "inoculants" to encourage the beneficial symbiotic relationship in the growing plant's root nodules, especially if growing on ground that hasn't been planted with beans before. This can increase yields and improve plant health. 

Avoid picking/weeding beans when the plants are wet. This will help prevent the spread of disease. 

Provide a trellis for pole beans. 

White-seeded varieties are more susceptible to rot when seeded in cool, wet, early-season conditions. 

Sow Snap Beans every few weeks for continued harvests.

Harvest dry beans when the pods are brown and dry.