Bean 'Cherokee Trail of Tears' (Organic)
Phaseolus vulgarisA commemorative bean with ancestry dating back to 1838. A long-cropping climber suitable for eating fresh while young or use as a dried bean when left to mature.
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Bean 'Cherokee Trail of Tears' (Organic)
Named for the Cherokee ancestors or Dr John Wyche who shared this seed with Seed Savers Exchange (SSE) in the US in honour of the fallen. This bean was carried over the Trail of Tears, the infamous winter death march from the Smoky Mountains to Oklahoma (1838-39) that left a trail of 4,000 graves. SSE shared this important variety with Diggers and we can now offer this bean to our members across Australia. In our trials it has proven itself to be a long harvest bean, producing a consistent crop from 67 days of sowing right through autumn and into winter. Suitable for eating fresh while young or allowing to dry when mature.
Fast growing tender annuals, beans perform best in warm, sunny positions. Shallow rooted vegetables, beans require regular watering. Their ideal soil will be enriched with organic matter, be neutral to alkaline and also have some potassium applied prior to sowing. Climbing and pole beans require support, while bush beans are self-supporting. Sow seed direct when soil temperature is between 16-29 degrees C and there is no likelihood of frost. Seed should germinate within 6-15 days and seedlings should be protected from snails and slugs. Water regularly and when plants start cropping, pick daily to maximise your harvest. At the end of the season, compost plants to add nitrogen back into your soil.