Name: Mayflower Bean Seeds
SKU: 3537
Availability: InStock

Mayflower Bean Seeds

$4.00

Small, oval beans with creamy white skin and red speckles. Rich, nutty flavour with a firm texture. Excellent for soups, stews, and baking. Heirloom pole bean with historical significance, valued for its productivity and reliability. Can be eaten fresh or dried for storage. The Mayflower beans came from England with early settlers, but their exact European origin before that is unclear. They were later preserved in the Appalachian region. 100 to 110 days to reach full maturity for dried beans. If harvested young as snap beans, they can be ready in about 60 to 70 days. 25 seeds per package

Availability: 3 in stock

Mayflower beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) are an heirloom pole bean variety known for their small, oval shape and creamy white colour with red speckles. They have a rich, slightly nutty flavour and a firm texture, making them excellent for soups, stews, and baking.

These beans are steeped in American history, believed to have been brought to North America by early English settlers on the Mayflower in 1620. The Mayflower set sail from Plymouth, England, on September 6, 1620. It carried English Pilgrims and other settlers to North America, arriving at what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts, on November 11, 1620.They were preserved by generations of Southern Appalachian families, who valued their productivity and reliable flavour. Mayflower beans are vigorous climbers, producing tender green pods that can be eaten fresh when young or dried for storage. Hardy and resilient, they continue to be a cherished heirloom variety for their historical significance and culinary versatility.

I grew these is 2024 without any water other than what was needed to get them to germinate when planted. There was a drought and intense heat. I almost thought I was going to lose the whole crop and they ended up surviving! The seeds are a little smaller than usual, which is normal for dry farmed seed.

These seeds are available directly from Garden Faerie Botanicals in the heart of British Columbia, Canada. The collection features heirloom and heritage seeds that are personally cultivated organically without the use of any chemicals. Emphasizing historical, rare, non-GMO seeds, this selection preserves biodiversity through open-pollination.