Rattlesnake Bean History

(Phaseolus vulgaris) (aka Preacher Bean) The seeds of this variety are light buff colored splashed with dark brown, said to resemble a rattlesnakes coloration. Rattlesnake is known for heat resistance and also the ability to produce enormous crops of beans for freezing and canning. Can also be used as a shell bean or”shellies.” The plants love to climb and can grow up to 10′ tall. Pods grow 7-8″ long. Starts producing at 60 days and will continue all season if keep well picked.

Growing Rattlesnake Pole Beans

Choose a place in your garden that is sunny and well-drained for rattlesnake beans. Work compost into your soil to a depth of at least 6 inches. Sow 3 to 4 rattlesnake bean seeds at a depth of 1 inch and about 4 inches apart. If using a teepee or pole trellis system, sow seeds at the base of each stake. Water the bean patch after sowing seeds if no rainfall is expected and at least once a week throughout the growing season when no rainfall occurs. Take care to not plant rattlesnake green beans too early or too late in the season. Rattlesnake beans seeds dislike cold soil, but the vines won’t set pods when the air temperature is too warm. Sow them as soon as the soil warms up in the spring, but before the air temperatures begin to average 80 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.

Preserving And Storing Rattlesnake Bean Plant

Can you freeze fresh green beans? Green beans are quite easy to freeze, and they last several months in the freezer so you can enjoy the taste of garden-fresh goodness even when it’s colder outside than it is in your freezer.

Rattlesnake Bean Recipes

This Southwestern-inspired stew utilizes flavor-rich Rattlesnake Beans, named for the way their bean pod grows in a coil.

Bean Nutrition

Beans come in many varieties. They’re packed with protein and fiber while low in fat and calories. In addition, they’re exceptionally high in a wide variety of vitamins and minerals. They may aid weight loss due to their high protein and fiber content, which can keep you feeling full for longer. Beans may help reduce your risk of heart disease by lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol, blood pressure, and inflammation. Studies show that beans can aid people with type 2 diabetes. This is largely due to their high fiber content and low GI. Certain beans can be toxic if they’re undercooked or eaten by people who are genetically predisposed. Make sure to cook beans thoroughly to mitigate their toxins. Soaking and sprouting are also beneficial.

Other Bean Varieties Worth Checking Out

Cantare Bush Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) The best green bean variety that we offer for the home gardener or professional grower. Year-after-year cantare beans out perform most other bush varieties in our trials. 15-18″ plants produce loads of rounded pods.

 Hidatsa Red Beans are smaller than kidney beans but similar in taste, these beautiful Hidatsa Red Beans were originally grown by the Hidatsa tribe in the Missouri River Valley of North Dakota. Very prolific, one plant can produce over 100 pods.  This bean can climb up to 3′ if given a trellis for support. Bush habit, dry, 80-95 days.