Mystery Beans

20 years ago

I was given some seeds that are said to be heirloom varieties, but I haven't had any luck in finding what kind they are. I've looked under the names they were given, and by their appearances, and can find nothing.

I was hoping maybe someone has heard of these varieties?

The first one is labeled "Yard Long Beans, 1986, Aunt Dee's", and the latest date on the label is '98. They're a black bean, small and narrow, kidney-shaped. Could these be what I've heard called "Appalachian Long Bean" or "Appalachian Yard Long Bean"?

The second is labeled "Pole Lima, Ella Shepard, Missouri". The beans are buff-colored with undertones of pale green, most are the size of a dime, but some are nickle-sized.

The third is labeled "Purple Speckled Pole bean, Pennsylvania Native, pre-1800". The closest reference I've found is on the Seeds of Diversity website in Canada, and the bean was "Uncle Willie's Pole Bean". These beans are a pinto or rattlesnake variety, on the small side, and have pink-tan coats with speckles and stripes of purple, dark purple, or black. Three of the twenty seeds have more of a russet background with black markings, but they could just be duds. They're a very pretty bean.

If anyone knows what they are, please let me know.

Thanks,

RavensWings

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Comments (2)

gardenlad
20 years ago
RavensWings: In the absence of any sure knowledge to the contrary it's a good idea to use the names you have.

In other words, one of those Aunt Dee's Yard Long Bean. Etc.

Even if we could, for sure, identify them as a particular variety, the strain might be different. So you want to keep them separate.
ravenswings
Original Author
20 years ago
I was only trying to compare the beans I have with varieties they look like. The lady who gave the seeds is from the Birmingham, AL area, so it's likely her Aunt Dee is from that area, but I can't be certain.

The Purple Speckle Beans look much like one of the four types seen in Cherokee Cornfield Beans (I noticed this while planting my Cornfields yesterday.) It's possible they're a relation. Or it may just be coincidence. The only reason I related to the Uncle Willie Beans was that their description matched closely. The Purple Speckles will get planted, I think, but probably next year.

The reason I'm researching these beans, and other seed varieties that came in the donation, is that the seeds were given to the Ft. Toulouse living-history program. The job was delegated to me to find which ones were of varieties that would be accurate for our time period, the French & Indian War. The garden belongs to the interpreters who portray the neighboring mid-1700's Native American community, of the Alabamas. So it's a garden that's mainly Native varieties with an influence of French varieties.

But if I cannot find information, the seeds won't get planted in the fort garden next year.
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