Pole Bean Seeds - Bertie Best Greasy

Phaseolus vulgaris

Bertie Best was the Aunt of legendary bean grower and seed saver, Bill Best. Originating from Haywood County, NC, this bean is a short, round podded greasy type pole bean and according to Bill, has existed in its present form for at least 130 years.  It's a great cooking bean and excellent for drying into shuck beans which are also known as shucky beans, leather britches, and at times in the past, fodder beans.  It comes in three colors: about 90% are white beans, about 6% are tan, and the remaining 4% are black.  Keeping with family tradition, Bill has never tried to separate the beans, and also adds that some of the older people in his family thought that the black and brown beans were what they called "pollinator beans."

SMALL FARM GROWN by Thompson Heritage Farms, Mexico, MO