Cherokee Trail of Tears
Cherokee Trail of Tears: 85-95 days to harvest, 7-10 days to germinate, 4-6 inches between plants, pH 6.0-7.0, hardy in zones 2-11. Fruit runs to about Medium, kidney-shaped. Give it full sun (6+ hours) and 1 inch per week, avoid overwatering water.
Sowing
Direct sow after soil reaches 60°F and all danger of frost has passed. Plant 1-2 inches deep.
Cultivation
- Sun
- Full sun (6+ hours)
- Water
- 1 inch per week, avoid overwatering
- Soil
- Well-drained loam, tolerates poor soil
- Soil pH
- 6.0-7.0
- Spacing
- 4-6 inches
- Season
- Warm season
Appearance & flavour
- Colour
- Deep purple-black with occasional mottling
- Size
- Medium, kidney-shaped
- Shape
- Kidney-shaped, plump
- Flavour
- Rich, meaty, earthy with a robust bean flavor
In the kitchen
Excellent for soups, stews, chili, baked beans, and traditional Native American dishes
Pests, disease & resistance
- Pests
- Bean beetles, aphids, spider mites
- Diseases
- Bacterial blight, anthracnose, rust
- Resistance
- Good general disease resistance, typical of heirloom pole beans
Planting calendar by USDA zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Transplant | Direct sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | — | — | June – August | October – September |
| 3 | — | — | June – July | October |
| 4 | — | — | June – July | September – October |
| 5 | — | — | May – June | September – October |
| 6 | — | — | May – June | September – October |
| 7 | — | — | April – June | August – October |
| 8 | — | — | April – May | August – September |
| 9 | — | — | March – April | July – August |
| 10 | — | — | February – April | June – August |
| 11 | — | — | January – March | May – July |
| 12 | — | — | January – March | May – July |
| 13 | — | — | January – March | May – July |
Companion planting
8 beneficial pairings indexed for this variety, 3 to avoid.
Avoid
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
Where to buy seed and equipment
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Cultivar facts compiled from public horticultural references including USDA GRIN and NC State Extension. Descriptions are original to this catalogue.
Grown Cherokee Trail of Tears?
Post a crop report — day counts, reservoir readings, what worked. Variety-specific logs are the most useful thing on the forum.
Similar varieties
Other beans with a comparable time to harvest, so a season that suits Cherokee Trail of Tears suits these too.
- Jacob's Cattle Bush Bean 85 days
- Vermont Cranberry Bush Bean 85 days
- Lima King of the Garden Pole 85 days
- Red Noodle 85 days
- Karikachi 85 days
- Fordhook 242 85 days