Fat Man Pole Bean (30 Seeds)

This bean was the favorite of a taste test I conducted among 20 varieties of heirloom beans and has sweet, mellow flavor. Vines are less rambunctious than some, almost like some half-runner beans, but require a trellis or teepee support. Pods are light green, fairly slender, and quickly turn pale yellow upon maturity after seeds become plump but they are still delicious picked at this stage. This bean requires stringing unless picked very young but the pod is never tough and becomes very tender when cooked slow for 30 min. Pods are borne early and abundantly in clusters of 2-5 and are 4.5-5 inches long. I do not know the origin of the name ‘Fat Man’ but I suspect that it reflects the abundance and deliciousness of the pods, similar to ‘Lazy Housewife’ bean. This variety is very rare but popular in parts of West Virginia and Virginia. Seed stock originally obtained from Betty Flanagan of Randolph Co, WV. 55-60 days to harvest. Seeds grown in Morgantown, WV. Germination 90% 11-30-2024. 30 seeds (sows 10 ft row)