Great Northern, Heirloom Dry Bush Bean Seeds

Great Northern, Heirloom Dry Bush Bean Seeds — The Mandan Indian Heirloom That’s the Best Baking Bean Available

Originally cultivated by the Mandan Indians of the Dakotas, Great Northern is the heirloom baking bean with outstanding consistency — widely grown in northern tier states and prized for its excellent baking quality. Semi-vining 24-inch plants yield a prolific quantity of flat, 5-inch pods holding 5–6 large white beans. Also excellent as a 65-day shell bean. 85 days to dry bean maturity.

Why Grow Great Northern?

• Mandan Indian heirloom from the Dakotas — centuries of Native American agricultural heritage
• The best baking bean — outstanding consistency and flavor
• Prolific yields — semi-vining plants, flat 5-inch pods with 5–6 large white beans
• Dual-purpose — excellent as shell bean at 65 days or dry bean at 85 days
• Widely adapted to northern tier states
• Open-pollinated heirloom — save seed year after year

Growing Notes

Direct sow outdoors after last frost when soil has warmed to at least 60°F. Sow seeds 1 inch deep, 2–4 inches apart, in rows 18–24 inches apart. Full sun. Water consistently. Harvest at 65 days for shell beans, or allow to fully dry at 85 days for dry beans.

Days to maturity: 65 days (shell), 85 days (dry)
Packet size: ~25+, 50+, or 100+ seeds
Type: Heirloom, Open-Pollinated, Dry Bush Bean
Pod length: ~5 inches
Plant height: ~24 inches
Sun: Full sun
USDA Zones: 3–12