I grouped shell and dried beans together because at this stage you can’t eat the pods. However, some of the following bean plants can also be used as snap beans if picked young. Most of these choices are from Rare Seeds and a few from MIgardener.
Seed Ideas:
There are quite a few choices for black beans:
Black Coat
Black Knight
Cherokee Trail of Tears – I’ve been growing this variety for years.
If you want some other colors, then check out these seeds:
1500 Year Old Cave
Arikara Yellow Bush
Cannellini Bean – this one has white beans
Hidatsa Red Indian – the plant are half runners, the beans are red and the pod is green.
Mbombo Green – the beans are emerald green.
Scarlet Pole – these beans are black and red speckled with reflower,
Sunset Pole – these beans are black and pink speckled and the flowers are pink.
Fava Beans:
Broad Windsor
Soybeans:
Chiba Green
Midori Giant
Tankuro – this bean is green when picked at the shell stage and black when it is dried.
Garbanzo:
Kabouli Black
Lima:
Alabama Blackeyed Butterbean
Christmas Pole – this one has pink/burgundy and white speckled beans
Kurzer’s Calico Traveler Half-runner – this one has purple and white speckled beans
There are more choice out there!
