Beans-shell | sandhill

bush beans for shelling

77 varieties to chose from. There is an extreme amount of hand labor involved with bean seed production on our scale. They are planted by hand, harvested by hand, shelled and cleaned. We are reducing packet size on all of our beans to around 25 seeds per packet. We have found that gives a good start and gives you a chance to try many more varieties. We have learned the best time for successful planting and harvest is to plant them in early July when other garden chores slow down they can get more care. The primary use for this group is to use in the green shell stage or dry stage for soup. We will probably have more than 25 seeds per packet when we have a good crop.

1800's Granny

1800's Granny 85 days- thick foliage with bushy plants. Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

14 Fox

14 Fox 85 days- thick foliage with bushy plants. Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

2421 Bush

2421 Bush- 85 days- thick foliage with bushy plants. Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

2640 Bushel

2640 Bushel- 85 days- thick foliage with bushy plants. Small black to off black seeds. Plants produce some twining runners. UNAVAILABLE FOR 2025

60 One Cutter

60 One Cutter- 90 days- Large plump oval kidney type that is basically deep red with paler streaks. Pods average about 6 inches long. Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

859 Bush Fall

859 Bush Fall- 90 days- . Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Angie’s WPA

Angie’s WPA- 90 days- Creamish grey almost tan colored round seeds. Originally from Kentucky

Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certifed Organic Seed

Arikara Yellow

Arikara Yellow- 85 days- Native American yellow-tan bush shell bean. An old Oscar Will variety introduced in 1915. Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Black Nightfall

Black Nightfall- 100 days- Semi-pole, very productive pods contain 4 to 6 seeds. A black color pattern similar to Turkey Craw. Pkt. (25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Black Turtle Soup

Black Turtle Soup- 93 days- Very productive, small black seeded soup bean. Very good flavor. These bean seeds soaked in water can be used to dye fabric a pale purple color. Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $2.00 Certified Organic Seed

Boston Favorite

Boston Favorite- 95 days- A very old horticultural type bean that was passed down in my mother’s family for a number of years. Beans are kidney shaped and pinkish with red streaks. 25 seeds $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Brown Bush

Brown Bush- 95 days- 25 seeds $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Brown Seeded Pink Tip Half Runner

Brown Seeded Pink Tip Half Runner - 90 days- Pods are pinkish tipped and look like Pink Tip Half Runner but seeds are flat and brown . Originally from James Wolfe of Rogersville, Tennessee. Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $2.50 Certified Organic Seed

Burlesenga Blue

Burlesenga Blue- 85 days - Truly one of the most unique colored beans Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Calypso

Calypso- 85 days - An excellent baking bean with unique half black half white seeds. Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Dry Adventist

Dry Adventist- 85 days- Small butterscotch yellow seed. Thin shelled 3 to 4 inch pods, shatter easily. Appears to be similar to Indian Woman Yellow. This variety originated in the old Seeds Blum catalog in the 1980’s. Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Ex Rico 23

Ex Rico 23- 85 days- Very small round white navy bean averaging 6 to 8 beans per 3 inch pod. Plants are very productive . ( 25 seeds) Pkt. $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Foxfire Kidney

Foxfire Kidney- 90 days- A pale pink red kidney. Very vigorous plants. 25 seeds $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

French Horticultural

French Horticultural- 80 days - Thick pods get rose red streaks at fresh shell stage. Easy sheller. Pkt. $1.75 UNAVAILABLE FOR 2025

French Navy

French Navy- 90 days- The largest seeded navy I have ever seen. Seeds are an off white color. Pkt.( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Grandma’s Shell

Grandma’s Shell- 90 days- Large round white seeds almost like a Fall bean. 4 inch pods contain 5 to 6 seeds. (25 seeds)Pkt. $3.00 Certified Organic Seed UNAVAILABLE FOR 2025

Hidatsa Indian Red

Hidatsa Indian Red- 80 days - Early Native American semi-twining shell bean. Deep red seeds. Occasional white sports show up. Pkt. (25 seeds) $3.00. Certified Organic Seed

Horticulture Dry Dwarf

Horticulture Dry Dwarf- 80 days- nice cranberry type bean, Pkt. (25 seeds )$3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Hurd Brown Flat

Hurd Brown Flat- 90 days- Medium to large size brown seeds. 4 inch pods with 5 to 6 seeds per pod. Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Hurricane

Hurricane- 75 days- 5-6 inch pods that contain nice sized deep purple red seeds.UNAVAILABLE FOR 2025

Indian Woman Yellow

Indian Woman Yellow -80 days- Small butterscotch yellow seed. Thin walled 4 inch pods, shatter easily and contain 4 to 6 seeds. Reputed to have originated in Montana. We determined this and Yellow Squaw were the same so are unifying under this name Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Ireland Creek Annie

Ireland Creek Annie- 60 days- Tan colored seed, green pods. Best as a dual purpose bean. Good as a green shell or a dry shell. Pkt. ( 25 seeds)$3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Kathryn

Kathryn - 90 days- Very large navy type tan colored oval bean. UNAVAILABLE FOR 2025

Kentucky Sulphur Bee

Heirloom bean from Kentucky. Seeds have a unique darker hilum area. Pkt. ( 25 seeds ) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Kentwood Navy

Kentwood Navy - 90 days- White seeded navy with 4 to 6 beans per 3 inch pod. Pkt. (25 seeds) $2.50 Certified Organic Seed UNAVAILABLE FOR 2025

Kretser Bush Soldier

Kretser Bush Soldier- 90 days- A very pretty soldier type bean , white kidney with a pink hilum which has dark pink streaks. 4 inch pods have 4 to 6 beans per pod. Pkt. ( 30 seeds). $3.00 Certified Organic Seed UNAVAILABLE FOR 2025

Lazywife Bush

Lazywife Bush- 85 days- Small white navy beans that are extremely productive. Plants get large and are sturdy. Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Legg's Prolific

Legg's Prolific-One of the many from Tom Knoche's collection that did not have good labels directing to its history. Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed.

Little Red Bunch

Little Red Bunch-One of the many from Tom Knoche's collection that did not have good labels directing to its history, appears very similar to Red Peanut. Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed.

Longeye Black Eye Bush

Longeye Black Eye Bush- 90 days- Colorful oblong seeds with black hilum area and black spots. 25 seeds Pkt. $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Marfax

Marfax - 85 days- Bush type with good production of yellow-orange round beans for soup. Certified Organic Seed 30 SEEDS Pkt. $3.00

Marrowfat

Marrowfat - 85 days- Bush type with good production of large white round beans for soup. . Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Maine Yellow Eye

Maine Yellow Eye - 85 days- plump white beans with a yellow hilum, a historic variety from Maine. PKT. ( 25 SEEDS ) $3.00 CERTIFIED ORGANIC SEED

Matiador

Matiador- 85 days- vigorous bush habit with many pods containing deep black small seeded bean Pkt. ( 30 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic seed

Michigan Black Eye

Michigan Black Eye- 95 days- Colorful pattern on white . Very large bushy plants. Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed Organic Seed.

Michigan Indian Bush

Michigan Indian Bush- 95 days- Colorful pattern on white . Very large bushy plants. Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed Organic Seed.

Michigan Indian Mix

Michigan Indian Mix- 80 days- In the early days of the Seed Savers Exchange Tom Knoche gathered up every bean that came through and got this mix from an early member in Michigan. Very productive. Pkt. $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Michigan Yellow Eye

Michigan Yellow Eye- 90 days- one of the early collections of the early Seed Savers. Pkt. (25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Minnesota Cranberry

Minnesota Cranberry- 85 days- Semi-twining, pinto type. Hardy and productive. Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Missouri Bills Bush

Missouri Bills Bush- 85 days- 5 inch long pods with 3 to 4 large long horticultural type beans. Plants are semi pole like in habit. UNAVAILABLE FOR 2025

Montezuma Red

Montezuma Red- 85 days- Flavorful Mexican type soup bean from Chiapas. Plants produce some small runners. Pkt. (25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed UNAVAILABLE FOR 2025

Odell's Hillbilly

Odell's Hillbilly- 90 days- creamish butterscotch brown seeds most likely used best as a green shell bean . Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Nano Roma di Galls

Nano Roma di Galls- 90 days- Deep red purple kidney bean. Italian origin from USDA via Robert Lobitz. 25 seeds Pkt. $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Odawa Indian

Odawa Indian- 90 days- 25 seeds Pkt. $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Old Time Bunch

Old Time Bunch- 90 days- Large pods with round oblong brown seed. Pkt. (25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Paint

Paint- 85 days- A yellow eye type soup bean, seeds are slightly oblong but more round than long. Pods are about 4 inches long. Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Painted Pony

Painted Pony- 78 days- early and colorful. Pkt. (25 seeds) Pkt. $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Pawnee Bush

Pawnee Bush- 90 days- a nice round white soup bean that is best described as a marrowfat type. Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Perona

Perona- 95 days- Oblong, horticultural type. Source seed came to us from Spain. UNAVAILABLE FOR 2025

Perona Verde

Perona Verde- 95 days- Oblong, horticultural type, slightly larger seed than Perona. Another one from Spain. Pkt. (25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Pink Eye Pioneer

Pink Eye Pioneer- 90 days closely resembles a solider type bean . Pkt. (25 seeds). $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Pink Kidney

Pink Kidney- 85 days- Dark carnation pink kidney bean averaging 6 to 7 beans per 6 inch pod. Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Pink Tip Half Runner

Pink Tip Half Runner- 85 days- Similar to Red Peanut. Very productive pinkish red seeds. Semi half runner type. 4 to 6 seeds. Reputed to have originated in Montana. Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Pink Trout

Pink Trout- 85 days- . Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Polish Pea

Polish Pea- Very tiny navy type bean. Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Quaker Bush

Quaker Bush- 85 days- A small deep brown seed suitable for making baked beans. Heavy yields. 4 inch pods contain 6 to 8 beans. pkt. ( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Red

Red- 85 days- Deep red Mexican type chili bean. Pods average 4 inches with 6 beans per pod. Excellent yields. 25 seeds Pkt. $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Red Eye

Red Eye- 80 days- Really a deep butterscotch golden hilum area(eye) Originally from Prairie Garden Seeds. Very productive and sturdy plants. Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Rhonda’s

Rhonda’s- 75 days- Buffy tan oblong seeds. Productive. Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Sarah's Speckled

Sarah's Speckled- 80 days Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Scarlet Beauty

Scarlet Beauty- 95 days- Large oblong round seeds, dark red mottled seed, developed by Dr. Meader. UNAVAILABLE FOR 2025

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Smith River Super Speckled

Smith River Super Speckled- 90 days- 5 to 6 inch pods, mostly maroon with flecks of white. Very colorful. . Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic UNAVAILABLE FOR 2025

Soldier

Soldier- 90 days- 7 white kidney bean shape seeds with pink red around the hilum. Pods average 6 inches long. Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Spanish Black

Spanish Black- 80 days- Small black seeds, similar to Black Turtle. . Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Squaw

Squaw- 90 days- Long seeds, seeds are spotted dark purple on white base color in 6 inch pods . We continue to follow our policy on not changing names to protect historical accuracy. Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Steuben Yellow Eye

Steuben Yellow Eye- 80 days- Round lemon yellow tannish seeds. Pkt. (25seeds) $3.00 (Limit 1 Pkt.) Certified Organic Seed

Tan Willis

Tan Willis- 80 days- Round lemon yellow tannish seeds. Pkt. (25seeds) $3.00 (Limit 1 Pkt.) Certified Organic Seed

Tri Color Bush

Tri Color Bush- 80 days- oblong very colorful seeds. Pkt. (25seeds) $3.00 (Limit 1 Pkt.) Certified Organic Seed

Tongue of Fire

Tongue of Fire- 75 days- Large round horticultural type, off pink base color with dark pink streaks. Supposed to have originated in Tierra del Fuego South America. 25 seeds Pkt. $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Upland Navy

Upland Navy- 85 days- Medium sized white seeded navy. Very productive. Pkt. (25seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Vermont Cranberry

Vermont Cranberry - 85 days to dry - Use as both green shell and dry shell. Very colorful pre-1876 variety. Pkt ( 25 SEEDS). $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Zuni Shilako

Zuni Shilako- 90 days- a nice drought tolerant variety that produces well in poor conditions. Beans are a dark yellow with white.Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

pole shell beans

14 varieties to choose from. Pole beans do so much better here in the Midwest than do the bush types.

Fat Man Buff

Fat Man Buff- 95 days- Tannish mauve seed, average climber. Seeds are roundish in shape. My friend Tom Knoche had obtained this one from a man in Michigan in the early 1980's PKT. ( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Fat Man Pole

Fat Man Pole- 90 days-another in a series of beans from Tom’s collection that were obtained from a man in Ogeman county Michigan. Seeds are white and round in shape. Pods are large and easy to shell at both green shell and dry shell stage. Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Fletcher Family Round White

Fletcher Family Round White- 80 days- Short fat pods with large white seeds. Probably best used as shell but immature green pods have a great flavor. Originally from Joyce Fletterly of Michigan Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed UNAVAILABLE FOR 2025

Fort Portal Jade

Fort Portal Jade- 90- days- A spectacular bean. Round and green in color, this variety is definitely a stand out. Most beans range in color within various shades of olive green. some more on the brown side, others more green. They almost look like soybeans. Above average production, do better if given some support which is why they are in this section. UNAVAILABLE FOR 2025

Garraful Imperial

Garraful Imperial- 90 days- Butterscotch colored, kidney bean shaped seeds. Some have slight streaks. Large easy to shell pods. Pkt ( 25 SEEDS) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Good Mother Stallard

Good Mother Stallard - 95 days - A family heirloom sent to me years ago that has now become quite popular, a very attractive, pinkish red streaked shiny bean. Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Goose

Goose - 80 days - Vigorous pole beans. Great for green shell. Large brown seeds. Pkt( 25 seeds). $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Habellones Regal

Habellones Regal- 85 days- Beautiful, round seeds. White with a horticultural type cap. Unique and colorful. Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Iroquois

Iroquois- 85 days- Vigorous grower, tall vines. Large black and white beans with a unique mottled and swirled pattern. The bean is said to have come from the Iroquois tribe where the name translated means skunk. Pkt. ( 30 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed UNAVAILABLE FOR 2025

Mountain Climbers

Mountain Climbers- 80 days- Another heirloom from the Qualls family of Virginia. Plump pods produce a good green shell bean. 1 oz. Pkt. $3.00 Certified Organic Seed UNAVAILABLE FOR 2025

Pink Tip Cornfield

Pink Tip Cornfield- 75 days- Sent to us by the Qualls family of Virginia. A beautiful 6 to 8 inch long, pale green pods with a slight pink tip at the blossom end. Seeds are large and brown. Makes a good green shell bean. . Pkt ( 25 seed). $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Red Goose

Red Goose- 80 days- large seeds of a deep red shades, vigorous plants produce well. Easy to shell and very colorful. Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Riner Pole

Riner Pole- 90 days- large seeds of reddish brown color, huge producer. Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $3.00. Certified Organic Seed

fall beans

( 5 varieties to chose from)

This is a special group of heirloom beans from Appalachia. They are usually pole beans used as a “string” bean, green shell bean and dry shell bean. Characteristics are shiny, round seeds. Updated for 2025

Grape

Grape - 90 days (to dry stage) - Vigorous climber, small, very round, purple seed. Heirloom from Magoffin County, Kentucky. Pkt. ( 25 seeds) Pkt. $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Nora Day White Fall

Nora Day White Fall - 95 days to dry - A true round fall bean. Vigorous climber and heavy producer. Pure white seed. Pkt. ( 25 seeds) . $2.75 Certified Organic Seed. UNAVAILABLE FOR 2025

Red Fall

Red Fall- 90 days- Round to oblong deep red beans . . Pkt. (25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Red Seeded Cornfield

Red Seeded Cornfield- 85 days - a very productive and colorful bean with loads of pods on medium strength vines. Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Red Speckled Fall

Red Speckled Fall - 85 days - This is a bush bean more like an ordinary cranberry, longer and plumper than typical Fall Beans. Tall bush heirloom from Adams County, Ohio. Beans are red with some tan marbling. UNAVAILABLE FOR 2025

SOYBEANS

The rabbits love this seed crop. This is ironic since we are surrounded by fields of genetically engineered Soybeans. Maybe the rabbits know something that we don’t know? We have many more types we’d like to offer but struggle with the rabbits. Updated for 2024

Butterbean

Butterbean- 85 days- A deep green soybean, used best as a green shell bean. Unavailable for 2025

Envy Soy Beans

Envy Soy Beans- 80 days- Nice sized, early, bright green soy. UNAVAILABLE FOR 2025

MISCELLANEOUS BEANS

This is a hodge podge of beans that don't fit into any other category. Updated for 2025

Adzuki

Adzuki- 80 days- Tiny, red seeded. Good for sprouts. Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $2.50 Certified Organic Seed

Black Pod Gram

Black Pod Gram- 80 days- Mung bean type. Eaten as a green vegetable (Indonesian cuisine). The green pods are cut in small chunks when young. Plants get 3 feet tall. Seeds are very small. Pkt. (100 seeds) $1.50 Certified Organic Seed

Brown Tepary

Brown Tepary - 75 days- Buff-brown seeds, drought tolerant desert variety from the Southwest. Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed

Hyacinth

Hyacinth- 100 days- Best grown as an ornamental. Plants are very vigorous viners. Leaves have a purplish cast. Flowers are a very beautiful lavender. UNAVAILABLE FOR 2025

Little White Soup

Small tepary bean that does very well in poor soil and dry conditions. 25 seeds $3.00. Certified Organic Seed

Mat Bean

Mat Bean- 85 days- Tiny seeded, Mung bean type. Plants are vigorous and forma thick carpet of foliage Unavailable for 2025

Red Hyacinth

Red Hyacinth- 90 days- A beautiful ornamental. Plants are vigorous viners. Leaves are pale colored with bright white flowers. Pods are a glistening greenish white with red seeds. Much earlier than the regular Hyacinth. Pkt. ( 25 seeds) $3.00 Certified Organic Seed UNAVAILABLE FOR 2025

Tan Pod Green Mung

Tan Pod Green Mung- 80 days- Tan podded version of the gram bean. Very small seeds. 100 seeds Pkt. $2.00 Certified Organic Seed

Sword (Canavalia gladiata)

Sword (Canavalia gladiata) - 120 plus days - An ornamental bean we have searched for many years. Darrel Jones in Alabama was able to get us a good crop of this very late bean. It is best used as an ornamental as questions exist about what is and isn’t edible. Seeds are huge and bright pink. We will have more details next year on culture when we have grown a crop here. Pkt. (15 seeds) $3.75

White Tepary

White Tepary- 90 days- White seeded, full bushy plants loaded with small pods. Does exceptionally well in dry conditions. (25 seeds )Pkt. $2.00 Certified Organic Seed

fava beans

Different than most beans these like it cool and can be planted when you plant peas.

Aquadulce

Aquadulce- 65 days- big brown seeds. 25 seedspkt. $2.00

Bell

Bell- 75 days- Unusual small seeded, small reddish brown seeds, does well in areas where it can over winter. 25 seeds. Pkt. $1.50

Masterpiece Green Pod

Masterpiece Green Pod- 70 days- Large green seeded 25 seeds Pkt. $2.00

Sweet Lorane

Sweet Lorane- 85 days- light colored seed coat, means less tannins and less bitter. 25 seeds Pkt. $2.00 Certified Organic Seed