Product Description: (Phaseolus vulgaris) The story of this plump, maroon-colored pole bean is one of outstanding endurance. Many years before Europeans came to this huge continent, the Abenaki people in Maine grew True Red Cranberry beans on top of the stalks of other “seven sisters” plants, such as the Otto File and the Morrisville Sunflower.
The first cookbook ever published in the United States, American Cookery (1796), talked about the True Red Cranberry bean. In 1863, Fearing Burr called it “one of the oldest and most familiar of garden-beans [that] has probably been longer and more generally cultivated in this country than any other variety.” ”.
By the middle of the 20th century, True Red Cranberry had almost been forgotten, even though it was New England’s most coveted dry bean. At about this time, the famous bean collector John Withee began an 11-year search for the almost extinct type. His efforts ultimately ended with resounding success on one farmer’s field in Steep Falls, Maine. Pole habit. 25 seeds per packet.
Growing Information: Direct seed in full sun after all danger of frost has passed. Sow your beans 2. 5 cm (1 inch) deep and 15 cm (6 inches) apart at the base of a trellis. Guide the vines up the trellis as they grow taller. For fresh string beans, harvest frequently to optimize yield. If you want dry beans, let the plant dry out until the pods are brown and broken.
During this time, make sure that your plants are getting enough airflow to keep them from getting too wet and allowing fungi to grow. A little spotty growth on the outside of drying pods is normal and won’t change the quality of the beans inside. Once dry, harvest the pods and crack them open. Put your beans in a cool, dry place until you’re ready to use them. Sort out any that are broken or showing signs of rot. 100 days to maturity.
Keeping seeds: It’s very easy to keep dry bean seeds because all you end up with is the seed. No extra work is needed. Simply store your beans in a cool, dry location until you are ready to plant them.
Product Description: (Phaseolus vulgaris) The story of this plump, maroon-colored pole bean is one of outstanding endurance. Many years before Europeans came to this huge continent, the Abenaki people in Maine grew True Red Cranberry beans on top of the stalks of other “seven sisters” plants, such as the Otto File and the Morrisville Sunflower.
The first cookbook ever published in the United States, American Cookery (1796), talked about the True Red Cranberry bean. In 1863, Fearing Burr called it “one of the oldest and most familiar of garden-beans [that] has probably been longer and more generally cultivated in this country than any other variety.” ”.
By the middle of the 20th century, True Red Cranberry had almost been forgotten, even though it was New England’s most coveted dry bean. At about this time, the famous bean collector John Withee began an 11-year search for the almost extinct type. His efforts ultimately ended with resounding success on one farmer’s field in Steep Falls, Maine. Pole habit. 25 seeds per packet.
Growing Information: Direct seed in full sun after all danger of frost has passed. Sow your beans 2. 5 cm (1 inch) deep and 15 cm (6 inches) apart at the base of a trellis. Guide the vines up the trellis as they grow taller. For fresh string beans, harvest frequently to optimize yield. If you want dry beans, let the plant dry out until the pods are brown and broken.
During this time, make sure that your plants are getting enough airflow to keep them from getting too wet and allowing fungi to grow. A little spotty growth on the outside of drying pods is normal and won’t change the quality of the beans inside. Once dry, harvest the pods and crack them open. Put your beans in a cool, dry place until you’re ready to use them. Sort out any that are broken or showing signs of rot. 100 days to maturity.
Keeping seeds: It’s very easy to keep dry bean seeds because all you end up with is the seed. No extra work is needed. Simply store your beans in a cool, dry location until you are ready to plant them.
Product Description: (Phaseolus vulgaris) The story of this plump, maroon-colored pole bean is one of outstanding endurance. Many years before Europeans came to this huge continent, the Abenaki people in Maine grew True Red Cranberry beans on top of the stalks of other “seven sisters” plants, such as the Otto File and the Morrisville Sunflower.
The first cookbook ever published in the United States, American Cookery (1796), talked about the True Red Cranberry bean. In 1863, Fearing Burr called it “one of the oldest and most familiar of garden-beans [that] has probably been longer and more generally cultivated in this country than any other variety.” ”.
By the middle of the 20th century, True Red Cranberry had almost been forgotten, even though it was New England’s most coveted dry bean. At about this time, the famous bean collector John Withee began an 11-year search for the almost extinct type. His efforts ultimately ended with resounding success on one farmer’s field in Steep Falls, Maine. Pole habit. 25 seeds per packet.
Growing Information: Direct seed in full sun after all danger of frost has passed. Sow your beans 2. 5 cm (1 inch) deep and 15 cm (6 inches) apart at the base of a trellis. Guide the vines up the trellis as they grow taller. For fresh string beans, harvest frequently to optimize yield. If you want dry beans, let the plant dry out until the pods are brown and broken.
During this time, make sure that your plants are getting enough airflow to keep them from getting too wet and allowing fungi to grow. A little spotty growth on the outside of drying pods is normal and won’t change the quality of the beans inside. Once dry, harvest the pods and crack them open. Put your beans in a cool, dry place until you’re ready to use them. Sort out any that are broken or showing signs of rot. 100 days to maturity.
Keeping seeds: It’s very easy to keep dry bean seeds because all you end up with is the seed. No extra work is needed. Simply store your beans in a cool, dry location until you are ready to plant them.
Cranberry beans, also known as borlotti beans, are a favorite type of bean appreciated for their striking speckled appearance and sweet, nutty taste. They can be used in a wide range of recipes from hearty bean soups to salads, stews, and more. But before planting cranberry beans in your garden, an important question arises – are cranberry beans bush beans or pole beans? Understanding the growth habit of this plant helps determine how to best grow it.
In this article, we’ll cover whether cranberry beans are classified as bush beans or pole beans. We’ll look at key differences between bush and pole bean varieties. We’ll also provide tips on successfully growing cranberry beans in your home vegetable garden. Let’s shed some light on the growth habits of this unique legume.
Are Cranberry Beans Bush or Pole?
The short answer is that cranberry bean varieties can belong to both bush and pole bean categories. Cranberry bean cultivars exist in bush, pole, and even semi-pole forms.
Pole beans grow on vining plants that can climb up to 10 feet tall on trellises or other supports. Bush beans are more compact growing closer to 2-3 feet tall without any vining habit. Semi-pole beans fall somewhere in between.
When purchasing cranberry bean seeds or plants, the product description should specify whether that particular cranberry bean cultivar is a bush, pole, or semi-pole type. Here are a few examples of both types:
Bush Cranberry Beans
- King Tut (60 days)
- Verano (75 days)
- Gold Rush (60 days)
Pole Cranberry Beans
- Speckled Cranberry (75 days)
- Rattlesnake Pole (65 days)
- Cranberry Pole (80 days)
Key Differences Between Bush and Pole Beans
Why does it matter whether a cranberry bean is a bush or pole variety? Understanding the traits of each bean type can help you pick the right ones for your gardening needs, Here are some of the key differences
Plant Size and Growth Habit
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Bush beans are more compact, reaching 2-3 feet tall. Pole beans are vining plants climbing up supports to around 10 feet.
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Bush beans produce all their pods in a concentrated set near the base. Pole beans bear pods along the length of vines.
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Pole beans continue producing longer throughout summer than bush beans.
Support and Spacing
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Bush beans stand upright on their own. Pole beans require trellises, poles, or other vertical supports.
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Bush beans can be grown closer together in rows. Pole beans need more room to grow vertically.
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Pole beans maximize production in small spaces while bush beans produce higher yields in open plots.
Harvest Time
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Most bush bean varieties mature quickly in 50-60 days. Pole bean cultivars take 60 days or longer.
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Pole beans offer continuous harvest for weeks while bush beans have a shorter concentrated harvest.
Flavor and Texture
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Pole beans are often described as fuller-flavored and meatier in texture.
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Bush beans can be crisper and snap more when eaten in the green shell stage.
Tips for Growing Cranberry Beans
Now that you know cranberry beans come in both bush and pole forms, here are some tips to successfully grow this crop:
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Select the bean type that suits your available space and support system. Trellises work well for pole beans.
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Prepare soil with compost to ensure good drainage and nutrition. Cranberry beans prefer slightly acidic soil.
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Sow seeds 1-2 inches deep in rows or containers. Space bush beans 4-6 inches apart and pole beans 8-12 inches.
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Water plants regularly to keep soil moist but not waterlogged. Increase watering as beans start to form.
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Mulch around the plants to retain moisture and reduce weeds.
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Once flowers appear, pollinating insects are important for good pod formation.
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Harvest bush beans when pods fill out but before bulging seeds cause pods to lose crispness.
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Pick pole beans when pods reach desired size but still snap easily.
With the proper variety, care and support, both bush and pole cranberry beans can produce abundant yields. Now that you know whether cranberry beans are bush or pole plants, it’s time to get growing!
Are Cranberry Beans Bush or Pole? The Bottom Line
Cranberry beans come in both bush and pole bean varieties. Bush beans produce a concentrated crop on compact, upright plants. Vining pole beans bear pods along indeterminate vines and require vertical supports. Each type has advantages that make them suited to different garden spaces and needs. The growth habit also affects plant size, harvest period, pod characteristics, and more.
So feel free to experiment with cranberry beans of either type in your garden. Just be sure to select a variety that matches your space constraints, support system, and harvesting preferences. With the right cranberry bean cultivar for your growing goals, you’ll be rewarded with a bountiful crop of colorful, flavorful beans.
2 tricks that will double your bush & pole bean yields
FAQ
How do you tell if beans are pole or bush?
What kind of bean is a cranberry bean?
Are October beans and cranberry beans the same?
Are Roman beans and cranberry beans the same?
How tall do cranberry beans grow?
Cranberry beans are an easy to grow plant. Neither pole nor bush beans, the cranberry bean grows on a stalk, which can attain a height of up to 6 feet (2 m.). Due to this great height, the cranberry bean needs to be staked and grows well planted in a large container, such as a half barrel or even a 1-gallon pot.
Do cranberry beans taste like a chestnut?
Fresh cranberry beans are reported to taste akin to a chestnut. Cranberry beans are an easy to grow plant. Neither pole nor bush beans, the cranberry bean grows on a stalk, which can attain a height of up to 6 feet (2 m.).
When do cranberry beans mature?
Cranberry bush beans mature all at once, but pole beans are harvested on a continuous basis which encourages additional production for a month or two. Cranberry beans are ready for picking when the bean pods have turned brown and dried out . Harvest Cranberry beans by cutting the pods using clean scissors or a pruning shear.
Can cranberry beans be grown at home?
Cranberry beans can be grown at home in both bush and pole varieties. Cranberry beans fix nitrogen and add nutrients that improve the soil, benefitting the plants that are growing beside them. Beans are great for heavy nitrogen users. Popular Cranberry bean cultivars today include Vermont Cranberry, Crimson, and Tongues of Fire.