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Beans · Phaseolus vulgaris 'Black Turtle'

Black Turtle Bush Bean

Black Turtle Bush Bean is a heirloom bean variety (Phaseolus vulgaris 'Black Turtle'). Harvest begins around day 90-100; seed germinates in 7-10 days. Set plants 4-6 inches apart. Grow in soil pH 6.0-7.0, zones 2-11, full sun (6+ hours). It will crop in a container.

Beans
90-100days to harvest
7-10days to germinate
Z2–11USDA zones
Easydifficulty
HeirloomContainer friendly

Sowing

Direct sow after last frost when soil temperature reaches 60°F. Plant 1-2 inches deep.

Cultivation

Sun
Full sun (6+ hours)
Water
1 inch per week, reduce watering as pods mature
Soil
Well-drained, fertile soil with good organic matter
Soil pH
6.0-7.0
Spacing
4-6 inches
Season
Warm season

Appearance & flavour

Colour
Deep glossy black
Size
Small, about 1/4 inch long
Shape
Small oval kidney shape
Flavour
Rich, earthy, slightly sweet with dense, meaty texture

In the kitchen

Black bean soup, Cuban black beans, burritos, salads, refried beans

Pests, disease & resistance

Pests
Mexican bean beetle, aphids, bean leaf beetle
Diseases
Anthracnose, bacterial blight, white mold
Resistance
Good resistance to common bacterial blight and bean mosaic virus

Planting calendar by USDA zone

ZoneStart indoorsTransplantDirect sowHarvest
2——June – AugustOctober – September
3——June – JulyOctober
4——June – JulySeptember – October
5——May – JuneSeptember – October
6——May – JuneSeptember – October
7——April – JuneAugust – October
8——April – MayAugust – September
9——March – AprilJuly – August
10——February – AprilJune – August
11——January – MarchMay – July
12——January – MarchMay – July
13——January – MarchMay – July

Companion planting

8 beneficial pairings indexed for this variety, 3 to avoid.

MarigoldRepels Mexican bean beetles and nematodes, attracts beneficial insects
NasturtiumActs as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, repels bean beetles
CornProvides natural support structure for climbing beans in Three Sisters planting
Summer SquashGround cover reduces weeds, part of traditional Three Sisters companion planting
CarrotsBeans fix nitrogen which carrots need, carrots don't compete for same soil space
RadishesBreak up soil for bean roots, mature quickly before beans need full space
CucumberBoth benefit from similar growing conditions and beans provide nitrogen
RosemaryRepels bean beetles and other pests with strong aromatic oils

Avoid

OnionsCan inhibit bean growth and nitrogen fixation by soil bacteria
GarlicAllelopathic compounds can stunt bean growth and reduce yields
SunflowerCompetes heavily for nutrients and water, can shade out beans

Nutrition (per 100 g)

Protein (g)
1.97
Fat (g)
0.275
Carbohydrate (g)
7.41
Fibre (g)
3.01
Vitamin K (µg)
43.9
Vitamin B6 (mg)
0.121
Calcium (mg)
40
Iron (mg)
0.652
Magnesium (mg)
28.2
Phosphorus (mg)
41.2
Potassium (mg)
290
Zinc (mg)
0.35
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Growing it? There is a full cultivation guide at the beans growing guide.

Cultivar facts compiled from public horticultural references including USDA GRIN and NC State Extension. Descriptions are original to this catalogue.

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