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Bean - Orca

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CA$3.90
3.9 9.3 CA$3.90 - CA$9.30
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Approximately 3 - 5 seeds per gram.
Phaseolus vulgaris
Lot#BD23107
80 – 100 days for dry beans. Open Pollinated. Bush type plant produces good yields of beans. Excellent choice for home gardens. The Orca bean is also known as "Calypso Bean" or the “Yin Yang” bean.  An heirloom bean from Mexico which are a natural type of kidney bean hybrid.  It is a distinctive coloured bean with its striking contrast of black and white. Beans grow on a sturdy bush type plant that averages 38-45cm (15-18”) tall with a spread that is 40-51cm (16-20”) wide.  Usually there are 4-5 beans per pod.  Orca beans double in size when cooked and have a smooth texture:  1 cup of dried beans = 2 cups of cooked beans. Excellent for soups and cooked beans.
Planting Instructions:   
  • Direct sow from end of May to June 15th..  Try to plant during a warm, dry spell.  Soil must be warm - if it is not warm enough, seeds will rot.  Beans require a minimum soil temperature of 16°C (60°F) and a maximum of 24°C (75°F). Seeds will not germinate properly if planted too deeply or too early in cold wet ground.  Sow seeds 2.5cm (1") deep, 5-8cm (2-3") apart, in rows 45-60cm (18-24") apart.  Never sow white seeded beans too early.  White bean seeds transmit water too fast, cracking the cotyledons which reduces seed vigor and germination whereas darker coloured bean seeds can regulate water uptake in cool, wet soils, preventing the cracking of the cotyledons.
  • Soil Conditions:  Well worked, rich, loose and well-drained soil. Ideal pH: 5.5-6.8
  • Planting Depth:   2-5cm (1") deep, 5-8cm (2-3") apart.
  • Germination:  6-10 days.
  • Height at Maturity:  Plants reach 38-45cm (15-18”) tall. Spread 40-51cm (16-20”) wide.
  • Days to Maturity:    45-55 days for green beans.  85-100 days for dried beans.
  • Watering:   Low water requirements at planting- moisten soil for germination, medium at flowering and then heavy through harvest.
  • Sun/Shade:  Full Sun     
  • Seed Spacing:      5-10cm (2-4") apart, in rows 45-60cm (18-24") apart.
Additional Information
Avoid planting in soil that stays consistently damp or wet.   We generally plant 3-4 rows at a time and space out rows at 20-25cm (8-10”) apart. It is perfect because most people can reach across that width.  You can grow 3-4 times the amount of heirloom beans in the same space, you reduce the amount of area for weeds, and you'll save on water.  It is about 45-55 days for young tender green beans, 85-95+ days for dry beans. Regular harvesting of the young pods will ensure a greater yield.