Description

Cave bean, also called ‘Anasazi’ bean, is a rare variety, descended from those found in a cave in New Mexico and reputed to have been 1500 years old. It is a vine crop to 4 metres tall, which will require a trellis or fence to grow on. Pinch out the growing tip of each plant when they have grown as high as you can reach. This will make the plants shorter and bushier. This variety has long, wide, flat pods. The large seeds have a red speckled pattern on a white background. Cave beans are best grown for dried beans. Allow the pods to dry on the plant as much as possible. Cut the bean, do not pull or the plant may be damaged.
Cave beans are a species of Phaseolus vulgaris, which includes string, green, snap, French (haricot), cannellini and kidney beans. If growing for seed collection, check the Latin name of the beans you are about to plant: all varieties of Phaseolus vulgaris have the potential to cross-pollinate with each other. They will, however, not cross-pollinate with snake beans, runner beans, lima beans, soybeans or lablab beans, so feel free to grow these other types of beans near your green bean of choice.