Detroit Dark Red Bush Bean
Phaseolus vulgaris 'Detroit Dark Red'
An eye-catching heirloom variety that produces deep burgundy-red pods on sturdy bush plants. While the pods turn green when cooked, they're absolutely stunning in the garden and at harvest. This productive variety offers the same great taste as traditional green beans with the added visual appeal of colorful pods.
Harvest
57-60d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
2–11
USDA hardiness
Difficulty
Easy
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Detroit Dark Red Bush Bean in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 bean →Zone Map
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Detroit Dark Red Bush Bean · Zones 2–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | — | — | June – July | August – October |
| Zone 4 | — | — | June – July | August – October |
| Zone 5 | — | — | May – June | August – September |
| Zone 6 | — | — | May – June | July – September |
| Zone 7 | — | — | April – June | July – August |
| Zone 8 | — | — | April – May | June – August |
| Zone 9 | — | — | March – April | May – July |
| Zone 10 | — | — | February – April | May – June |
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 Detroit Dark Red beans store best in the refrigerator crisper drawer in a perforated plastic bag for up to one week. Avoid washing until ready to use, as excess moisture causes rapid deterioration.
For freezing, blanch whole pods in boiling water for 3 minutes, plunge into ice water, drain thoroughly, and freeze in portions. The red color will fade during blanching but flavor remains excellent. These beans also pressure can beautifully following USDA guidelines for green beans.
For unique preservation, try pickling young tender pods while they retain their striking red color—they make stunning refrigerator pickles. The pods can also be fermented like traditional dilly beans, though they'll lose their distinctive color during fermentation. Avoid dehydrating as bush beans don't dry well compared to shell bean varieties.
History & Origin
Origin: Tropical America
Advantages
- +Fast-growing
Considerations
- -Toxic (Seeds): Medium severity
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Marigold
Repels Mexican bean beetles and aphids while attracting beneficial insects
Nasturtium
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, protecting beans
Carrots
Loosens soil for bean roots and doesn't compete for nutrients
Radishes
Breaks up compacted soil and deters bean beetles
Lettuce
Shallow roots don't compete with beans, benefits from bean's nitrogen fixation
Spinach
Cool-season crop that utilizes nitrogen fixed by beans
Cucumber
Beans provide nitrogen while cucumbers use different soil nutrients
Summer Savory
Repels bean beetles and may improve bean flavor and growth
Keep Apart
Onions
Can inhibit bean growth and nitrogen fixation by root bacteria
Garlic
Allelopathic compounds can stunt bean growth and reduce yields
Sunflowers
Compete heavily for nutrients and water, can shade out bush beans
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #2346400)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Moderate resistance to common bean diseases
Common Pests
Mexican bean beetles, aphids, thrips, leafhoppers
Diseases
Anthracnose, bacterial blight, rust, powdery mildew