North Carolina Long E Greasy bean
$4.00
(Phaseolus vulgaris)
Pole, 8’/2.6 m tall. Small white seeds. If you are interested in growing Navy beans, but lack the space for them, this bean might be an ideal replacement. Vigorous vines are more productive per square foot than bush beans, and it matures quite evenly, making it easy to harvest.
The “Greasy” in the name is a term from the American Southeast used to designate a bean that, unlike most beans, has smooth pods — a trait favoured for that Appalachian specialty, “leather britches” (dried green beans). Clearly coming up with food names which appealed to outsiders was a priority for the good people of the Appalachian Mountains. My mother has told me that renaming it something more appetizing might improve sales, but I say the quality of the beans speak for themselves, and loyally refuse to remove a mark of their heritage!
95 days to maturity. 35 seeds/packet.
In stock
Plant after last frost; soil must be warm or seed will rot. If growing on corn, wait to plant until corn is about 3” tall, or two weeks after corn is planted. Sow 1” deep. Space bush beans 2-4” apart. Pick dry beans when pods are fully dry; seed must be dry enough to not dent with a fingernail for storage. Dry beans can be further dried on a tarp, then threshed by dancing on them and winnowing away the chaff.