What is an October bean?

October beans, which are also called “fall beans” or “speckled beans,” are an assortment of old heirloom shell beans that usually ripen between the end of summer and the first frost. The shelled beans are lovely, too. They’re a lustrous pearl white and speckled with pink.

How long does it take for October beans to grow?

Growing Tips for Fall Beans. Grow a bush bean variety that matures in around 45 days. That should give you enough time to plant them in the late summer and harvest before your area’s first frost. If you have bean seeds left over from the spring, they are still good to use.

Are October beans and cranberry beans the same?

October beans are in the cranberry bean family according to “Heirloom Beans” by Steve Sando (Rancho Gordo) and Vanessa Barrington. Incidentally, “Heirloom Beans” is a great bean reference/guide and for delicious, delightfully different, appetizer to main course recipes.

Why are they called October beans?

I’m not sure why this type of bean is called a “fall/October bean” because they do not take much longer to mature than any other pole bean. They can be eaten fresh as a green bean, or they can be dried and shelled out to eat. They produce a large bean in a flattened pod, and many varieties are string-less.

What do you call beans growing in October?

Growing Stages of October Beans. Sometimes they are called fall beans. The plants’ fruits, or beans, are often harvested and cooked at the shelly bean stage, when the beans are mature but still soft, and they have a full, nutty flavor. Most October bean plant cultivars are multipurpose, their crop used also for snap beans and dry beans.

Where did the dry bean October Bean come from?

Dry Bean October Bean is a Native American bean variety which dates back to the 1830s, grown by the Cherchei Nation in Tennessee. The October Heirloom Bush Bean is a beautiful white bean with lovely maroon wren’s egg markings. This October Bean strain comes from a Cherokee Indian descendant.

What kind of Shell do October beans have?

The shells have long speckled strands of brilliant pink, and a few are colored a solid dark pink. The shelled beans are lovely, too. They’re a lustrous pearl white and speckled with pink.

When to plant October bean seeds in California?

Bean plants are grown as annuals but are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11. Plant bean seeds two weeks after the last frost for your area or when the soil temperature reaches 65 degrees Fahrenheit. October bean plants come in both bush and pole varieties, with pole varieties taking longer to mature.