(89 days) Open-pollinated. Unlike our soldiers in most faraway wars, these Soldiers have a clear winnable mission within a defined timetable: to reproduce themselves every year for our mutual benefit! Large drought-tolerant white kidney beans with red-brown figures on the eyes. Also called Red Eye, the “soldier” figure looks something like a toy soldier, or an 18th century European soldier. A favorite in colonial Bean Town. ①
Soldier Shell & Dry Bush Bean
Soldier Shell & Dry Bush Bean
(89 days) Open-pollinated. Unlike our soldiers in most faraway wars, these Soldiers have a clear winnable mission within a defined timetable: to reproduce themselves every year for our mutual benefit! Large drought-tolerant white kidney beans with red-brown figures on the eyes. Also called Red Eye, the “soldier” figure looks something like a toy soldier, or an 18th century European soldier. A favorite in colonial Bean Town. ①
Additional Information
Shell and Dry Bush Beans
About 70-190 seeds/oz packet. Seed size varies widely by variety.
Culture: In conditions of high nitrogen fertility some bush beans may develop vines in moist hot weather. Tender, will not survive frost. Plant 3–4 seeds/ft in rows 24–30" apart. Pick frequently for maximum yields, but avoid disturbing foliage in wet weather to prevent spread of fungal diseases.
Harvest at shelling stage when beans are plump inside pods. For dry beans let pods dry hard on the vine until pressing the beans with your fingernail leaves no indentation. If heavy rains or hard frost threaten before full dry maturity, either pull plants by the roots and hang them in a dry place to finish; or pick pods into mesh or paper bags and finish drying them indoors before threshing.
Beans
- All beans are open-pollinated.
- Days to maturity are from seeding date.
Culture: Tender, will not survive frost. Inoculate with a legume inoculant, then plant seeds 3–4" apart in rows 24–30" apart after all danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed. Minimum germination soil temperature 60°; optimal range 70–80°. White-seeded beans are generally more sensitive to cold soil temps than dark-seeded varieties. Legumes have moderate fertility needs and can fix their own nitrogen.
Saving Seed: Saving bean seed is easy! Leave pods on the plants to dry. Hand shell, or stomp pods on a tarp. To ensure true-to-type seed, separate varieties by 30 feet.
Diseases:
- ANTH: Anthracnose
- BBS: Bacterial Brown Spot
- CBMV: Common Bean Mosaic Virus
- CTV: Curly Top Virus
- DM: Downy Mildew
- HB: Halo Blight
- NY 15: NY 15 Mosaic Virus
- PM: Powdery Mildew
- PMV: Pod Mottle Virus
- R: Rust
- SC: Sclerotina
White mold, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, affects more than 300 plant species. In beans, low humidity, good air circulation and wider spacing, both between plants and between rows, reduce the likelihood of this soil-borne infection.
Germination Testing
For the latest results of our germination tests, please see the germination page.
Our Seeds are Non-GMO
All of our seeds are non-GMO, and free of neonicotinoids and fungicides. Fedco is one of the original companies to sign the Safe Seed Pledge.