Jacob's Cattle, Heirloom Dry Bush Bean Seeds

Jacob’s Cattle, Heirloom Dry Bush Bean Seeds — The Northeastern Heirloom With Nutty, Fragrant Flavor

Originally from the Northeastern United States, Jacob’s Cattle is a plump kidney bean with dark red-brown coloring accented by white speckled spots — meaty flesh that holds well during cooking, and a pleasant, nutty, rich, and fragrant flavor. Large, kidney-shaped beans with white and maroon mottling taste sweet and creamy like a Pinto Bean and cook to a smooth texture. They cook more rapidly than modern dry beans and are less gassy. A nitrogen fixer in the garden. Easy to grow. 55 days to green beans, 90 days to dry beans.

Why Grow Jacob’s Cattle?

• Northeastern American heirloom — a classic New England dry bean
• Nutty, rich, fragrant flavor — sweet and creamy like a Pinto Bean
• Cooks more rapidly than modern dry beans — practical and efficient
• Less gassy than most beans — easier to digest
• Nitrogen fixer — improves soil health
• 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 55 days for green beans, or allow to fully dry at 90 days for dry beans.

Days to maturity: 55 days (green), 90 days (dry)
Packet size: ~25, 50, or 100 seeds
Type: Heirloom, Open-Pollinated, Dry Bush Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)
Sun: Full sun
USDA Zones: 3–12