Cherokee Purple Pod Bean
Phaseolus vulgaris 'Cherokee Purple Pod'
A stunning heirloom pole bean that produces gorgeous deep purple pods on vigorous vines, creating an eye-catching display in any garden. Beyond their ornamental value, these beans offer excellent flavor and turn green when cooked, making them both beautiful and delicious. This Cherokee Nation variety represents centuries of careful seed saving and cultural heritage.
Harvest
65-70d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
2–11
USDA hardiness
Difficulty
Easy
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Cherokee Purple Pod Bean in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 bean →Zone Map
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Cherokee Purple Pod Bean · Zones 2–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | — | — | June – July | September – October |
| Zone 4 | — | — | June – July | September – October |
| Zone 5 | — | — | May – June | August – October |
| Zone 6 | — | — | May – June | August – September |
| Zone 7 | — | — | April – June | July – September |
| Zone 8 | — | — | April – May | July – August |
| Zone 9 | — | — | March – April | June – July |
| Zone 10 | — | — | February – April | May – July |
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day). Soil: High Organic Matter. Drainage: Good Drainage. Spacing: 6-feet-12 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: 'Rattlesnake'Pole Snap Bean, 'Rattlesnake'. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
The boat-shaped seed pods are bilaterally symmetrical and can be green, yellow, white, or purple at maturity. There is a wide variety of color and shape choices among cultivars.
Color: Gold/Yellow, Green, Purple/Lavender, White. Type: Legume. Length: > 3 inches. Width: < 1 inch.
Garden value: Edible, Good Dried
Harvest time: Fall, Summer
Bloom time: Spring, Summer
Storage & Preservation
Fresh Cherokee Purple Pod beans maintain best quality when refrigerated immediately after harvest. Store unwashed pods in perforated plastic bags in the refrigerator crisper drawer, where they'll stay fresh for 5-7 days. Don't wash until ready to use, as excess moisture promotes decay.
For freezing, blanch whole pods in boiling water for 3 minutes, then plunge into ice water. Drain thoroughly and pack in freezer bags – frozen beans maintain quality for 8-10 months. The purple color will fade during blanching but flavor remains excellent. For drying, allow pods to mature on the vine until they rattle, then harvest and shell the beans. Dried Cherokee Purple Pod beans store for years in sealed containers and make excellent winter soup beans with their rich, hearty flavor.
History & Origin
Origin: Tropical America
Advantages
- +Fast-growing
Considerations
- -Toxic (Seeds): Medium severity
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Corn
Provides natural trellis for climbing beans while beans fix nitrogen for corn
Squash
Completes the Three Sisters planting, ground cover reduces weeds and retains moisture
Carrots
Beans loosen soil for carrot growth while carrots don't compete for nutrients
Radishes
Break up soil for bean roots and mature quickly before beans need full space
Marigolds
Repel Mexican bean beetles and other harmful insects
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles
Catnip
Deters flea beetles and ants that can damage bean plants
Summer Savory
Repels bean beetles and may improve bean flavor when grown nearby
Keep Apart
Onions
Inhibit bean growth and nitrogen fixation through root secretions
Garlic
Stunts bean growth and interferes with beneficial soil bacteria
Sunflowers
Allelopathic compounds inhibit bean germination and growth
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #2346400)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Standard heirloom disease resistance, generally hardy
Common Pests
Mexican bean beetle, bean leaf beetle, aphids
Diseases
Bacterial blight, anthracnose, common bean mosaic virus