Large Beans

17 years ago

Help! I have been growing these huge beans for the past 6+ years. I can't remember who gave me the seed. The bean dried pods are 10-11 inches long, 1 1/4 inches wide, and contain 10-11 red seeds that look like butterbeans. The seeds measure 1 inch long and 5/8 inch wide. They are runners and the blooms are pink and white. I live the mid-western part of the state of Georgia. These beans do very well here. I have posted a picture under: Great Gardens and Great Vegetables. Any help will be appreciated. Thank you. suzie

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Comments (7)

barbara_mel
17 years ago
Could it be Goliath runner beans. I had them some years back. They were just as you described. I cant find them any more. I purchased them from vermont bean co. They no longer have them. I wish I would have saved that seed.
Mel
jimster
17 years ago
Suzie,

I couldn't find the picture. Would you post it here?

Jim
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rodger
17 years ago
I found the picture but it is burry so hard to tell, Could it be a jack bean? I don't know much about Jack beans ( boy can this be played with Don't know jack about beans...) but they are similar to Limas but much larger pods and common in the south decades ago. I have not ever seen one other than it is referred to in The Beans of New york with a picture. Rodger
rodger
17 years ago
I did a web search and found this article below. They are also called sword beans and the sword bean ihas red seed.

Here is a link that might be useful: Jack bean
zeedman Zone 5 Wisconsin
17 years ago
Disclaimer: I have not grown them, but...

The Jack Bean is supposedly a bush, with white seeds. Sword Bean (C. gladiata) is a climbing vine, with large red seeds. My guess would be the latter. An examination of the hilum (as described in Rodger's link) should narrow it down.

Barbara Mel, I have seed for the "Goliath" runner bean. It is fairly old, I last grew it in 2000. Keep planning to grow it out fresh, but I have several other runner bean projects underway, and it keeps getting "bumped". Sadly, you can only grow one variety at a time for seed. Let me know if you might be interested, maybe we can arrange a swap.
suziehomemaker
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks for all the help guys !!! I will do some more research on the Sword, Jack Beans and Goliath runners, this looks like the right track. The picture of the Jack bean did not look exactly like the ones I grow but similar. I would be more than happy to share seeds. Send me your address and I will mail them. Thanks again. Suzie
[IMG]http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k253/suzyhomemaker_2006/LargeBeans.jpg[/IMG]
suziehomemaker
Original Author
17 years ago
Hey rodger and zeedman, way to go !!! The bean I have is Sword Bean (c. gladiata). It is edible but has some toxicity issues. We will keep growing it just for the topics of conversation it brings with fellow gardeners. Again, thank you. Will be more than glad to share seeds if anyone is interested. SO GLAD THIS MYSTERY IS SOLVED !