Types of beans: robust, heirloom & new varieties

Theresa
Theresa
Theresa
Theresa

I am studying crop science and have always enjoyed gardening, despite the fact that my first attempts as a small child were rather unsuccessful. With the skills and knowledge gained from my studies, I am now enjoying much more success - I find topics like intercropping, raised beds and composting particularly fascinating.

Favourite fruit: cherries, plums and pears
Favourite vegetables: broccoli, chard and peas

Found some space on the allotment? Room on the balcony? With so many varieties to choose from, the humble bean has a lot to offer. From heirloom to new bean varieties – let our experts show you around the world of the bean!

A selection of colourful beans pods
There are many, many beans, each with their own unique characteristics [Photo: Shulevskyy Volodymyr/ Shutterstock.com]

If you want to grow your own beans, it is worth spending some time deciding what you want to eat! The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) is usually eaten fresh with the pod. Bush and pole bean varieties, meanwhile, tend to be harvested during their ‘milk stage’. The milk stage refers to the first phase of ripening when the beans are easy to extract and dry. Dried beans are perfect for long-term storage or as seeds for next season. And if you need flexibility, the increasingly popular runner bean is a great option. Harvest it early for a soft pod, or hold on for a richer bean.

There are several differences between bush and pole bean varieties. Bush beans grow on small, independent bushes that do not require any support. They have a shorter harvest period, slightly less yield per plant and require less space to grow than pole beans. That being said, pole beans, who, as the name suggests, grow vertically and require the support of a pole or rod, yield many more beans per plant than bush beans. And if neither of these take your fancy, wax beans – yellow bush or pole bean varieties – are another great choice; perfect for a particularly tender bean. 

If you are feeling spoilt for choice, have no fear. Here, we have collected everything you might like to know about the most popular green and yellow, bush and pole, dry, broad and runner bean varieties. And at the end of the article, our brief summary should help you make that all too important decision – which bean?

Runner beans lay in a split pod
Runner beans grow fast, and form plenty of speckled seeds [Photo: acongar/ Shutterstock.com]

Bush beans

The following bush bean varieties have green pods and green bean characteristics. 

  • Amethyst: violet pods; stringless with a high yield; compact growth; suitable for the balcony.
  • Bluevetta: violet-black pods; intense aroma.
  • Boston: bright grass-green pods; high yield.
  • Brilliant: traditional variety; long, stringless pods; robust growth; high yield.
  • Brown Dutch: excellent variety; coffee brown seeds; green pods.
  • Cropper Teepee: early variety; elongated, stringless pods.
  • Delinel: popular French variety; high yield and stringless; excellent taste.
  • Dubbele Witte: stringless; precocious; bright green pods and a great taste.
  • Dublette: up to 20cm long pods; excellent resistance to fungal disease; abundant harvest.
  • Jutta: stringless; good resistance to cankering and halo blight; high yield.
  • Maxi: stringless and precocious variety with a high yield; easy to harvest because the pods grow above the leaves.
  • Pfaelzer Juni: stringless; extremely precocious; excellent taste with a good texture.
  • Primrose: very long, stringless pods (up to 20cm); early ripening and a high yield; great taste.
  • Prinzessa: light green; decent disease resistance; high yield.
  • Purple Teepee: stringless; dark purple; develops 15cm long, delicious pods.
  • Royal Burgundy: dark violet to blue-black, stringless pods; crispy and rich in flavour.
  • Speedy: early ripening; deep green pods; good resistance to cankering and halo blight.
  • Talisman: stringless, precocious variety; superb aroma and delicate texture.
  • Vanguard: Italian variety; dark green pods; striking white seeds with a wonderful taste; high yield.

Wax beans: bush beans with yellow pods

The following bush bean varieties develop yellow pods, which are very tender when harvested at the right time.

  • Berggold: heirloom variety; stringless pods; remarkable flavour and robust growth.
  • Brittle Wax: ripens early; the seeds are speckled black; wonderful taste.
  • Dickfleischige Wachs: stringless; golden yellow pods with light-coloured seeds.
  • Golddukat: elongated, stringless pods; very good taste.
  • Golden Teepee: early variety; high yields; easily accessible pods, which hang above the leaves.
  • Hildora: high yield; long, yellow pods; outstanding taste.
  • Valdor: deep yellow variety; stringless, very short pods; ripens early; abundant harvest. 
  • Wachs Beste von Allen: traditional variety; long, bright yellow pods; lovely taste.

Pole bean varieties

What pole beans lack in independence they more than make up for in flavour.

  • Blauhilde: stringless, dark violet runner bean variety; superb taste; robust growth; resistant to various diseases.
  • Algarve: early variety; light green, stringless, long pods; bulging seeds; excellent taste; high yield
  • Eva: green runner bean variety; early ripening; very long pods (up to 30cm); high yields and very good taste.
  • Matilda: early variety; elongated pods; extremely high yield; outstanding taste with fine texture.
  • Mombacher Speck: classic variety; high yield; stringless, green pods.
  • Neckargold: stunning variety; elongated, light yellow pods; very fleshy, stringless pods with an aromatic taste.
  • Rampicante S. Anna: early runner bean variety; fleshy, shorter, stringless, dark green pods with a good taste.
  • Smeraldo: long runner bean variety; wide, light green pods; precocious growth; first-class taste.

Wax beans: pole beans with yellow pods

For something a bit different, why not try yellow, wax pole beans?

Three shades of bean pod
Bean pods have incredibly diverse colours [Photo: Pavel Kobysh/ Shutterstock.com]
  • Anellino Giallo: late, Italien variety; golden-yellow, curved pods; small beans, speckled red.
  • Goldmarie: one of the first yellow-shelled runner beans; very fleshy; stringless; excellent taste and robust growth.
  • Meraviglia Di Venezia A Grano Bianco: precocious runner bean variety; yellow skin; abundant harvest; elongated, stringless pods.
  • Meraviglia Di Venezia: Italian broad bean variety; deep black beans; high yield; late-ripening; stringless, fleshy pods.
  • Neckarkönigin: traditional variety; fine texture; abundant harvest; light green, elongated pods; very robust and resistant to mosaic virus.

Dry bean varieties

For the following varieties, it is best to let the beans fully ripen before harvesting them sans pod.

Bush bean varieties to harvest dry beans

  • Borlotto (rosso): stunning variety; red and white-dotted pods; late-ripening; red to brown seeds.
  • Borlotto Di Vigevano: high yield; stringless; speckled cream and red.
  • Canadian Wonder: typical kidney bean variety; high yield; excellent taste.
  • Cannelino: well-known Italian white bean; long, semi-flat pods that turn yellow-green when fully ripe.

Pole bean varieties to harvest dry beans

  • Borlotto Lingua Di Fuoco 3: fire-red speckled pods.

Broad bean varieties

Broad beans (Vicia faba) used to be very common. Nowadays, they are more often found in farmers markets than supermarkets. Like bush beans and runner beans, broad beans belong to the Papilionaceous family, but unlike their relatives, are part of the vetches genus. Depending on the variety, broad beans can be harvested from the end of May to the beginning of August. When harvested young, you should be able to eat the pod. Wait a little longer, and you can harvest the ripened beans, either at their milk stage or later. 

Earlier varieties

  • Dreifach Weisse: widespread variety; very popular; white flowers; tasty, tender, white seeds.
  • Osnabrücker Markt: traditional variety; very light-coloured seeds.
  • Witkiem: long, thick pods; tasty white beans.

Late varieties

  • Hangdown Grünkernig: medium to late, heirloom variety; high yield; delicate, luscious green beans.
  • Hunsrück: very large variety; yellow to beige seeds.
  • Listra: rich bean flavour; delicate, tender seeds.
  • Perla: extremely popular; delicate, aromatic beans; green seeds.
  • Piccola: green seeds; narrow pods; characterised by rapid growth and reliability; high yield; resistant to bean anthracnose and many other fungal diseases.

Perfect variety for balconies and terraces

  • Robin Hood: very popular variety; short; exceptionally tender, deliciously aromatic beans.

Exotic bean varieties: runner beans, mung beans, cowpea and more

Runner beans are not suited to hot weather. So if your garden is cool and humid, the runner bean might be for you! With larger, fleshier pods, and a coarser texture than the common garden bean, runner beans are quite versatile. Pick them early enough and the pods will remain tender enough to eat. Here are our favourites: 

  • Preisgewinner: vigorous variety; tolerates harsher climates.
  • Red Rum: hybrid variety; numerous small pods; resistant to mildew.
  • Weisse Riesen: robust and resistant to harsh weather; suitable for colder climates; long, fleshy, stringy pods.

While ‘Preisgewinner’ and ‘Red Rum’ bear red flowers, ‘Weisse Riesen’ bloom white.

The mung bean (Vigna radiata), also known as green gram, can be eaten dry or as a seedling. However, there is little variety on the market.

The cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is one of the oldest bean varieties still cultivated by humans. It forms very long, slender pods, which can be eaten just like green beans.

Too many to choose from?

Feeling overwhelmed? It is hard not to be! Here are the most important things to think about when selecting the best bean for you.

  1. Want to eat the pod? Reach for bush beans or pole beans
  2. Living in a damp and cool climate? Opt for runner beans
  3. Looking to dry your beans? Try dry beans or broad beans.
  4. Particularly fond of a tender pod? Look out for yellow beans (also called wax beans). 
  5. Plenty of space in the garden ? Bush beans are the best choice for beginners.
  6. Happy to grow climbing varieties with a supporting pole? Pole beans with high yields are your best bet.
  7. Interested in harvesting milk-ripe beans? Cultivate broad beans in humid climates and runner beans in cooler regions.

There is a bean for everyone. Have a look at which best suits your needs, read over our advice, and soon enough, you’ll be harvesting some wonderfully nutritious, beany goodness! If you are interested in storing and preserving beans, we’ve got you covered!

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