Jacob's Cattle Bush Bean
Phaseolus vulgaris 'Jacob's Cattle'
A stunning heirloom dry bean with distinctive white and maroon spotted patterns that earned its name from resembling the biblical Jacob's spotted cattle. This New England heritage variety combines beautiful appearance with exceptional flavor, making it both a conversation starter and a delicious addition to soups and stews.
Harvest
85-95d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
2–11
USDA hardiness
Difficulty
Easy
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Jacob's Cattle Bush Bean in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 bean →Zone Map
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Jacob's Cattle Bush Bean · Zones 2–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | — | — | June – July | October – October |
| Zone 4 | — | — | June – July | September – October |
| Zone 5 | — | — | May – June | September – October |
| Zone 6 | — | — | May – June | September – October |
| Zone 7 | — | — | April – June | August – October |
| Zone 8 | — | — | April – May | August – September |
| Zone 9 | — | — | March – April | July – August |
| Zone 10 | — | — | February – April | June – August |
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
Store dried Jacob's Cattle beans in airtight containers in a cool, dark location where they'll maintain quality for 2-3 years. For long-term storage, freeze beans for 48 hours first to eliminate any bean weevil eggs, then transfer to sealed jars or mylar bags with oxygen absorbers.
These beans excel at traditional preservation methods. For freezing cooked beans, soak overnight, cook until tender (1-2 hours), cool completely, and freeze in meal-sized portions for up to 8 months. Pressure canning works excellently—process pint jars for 75 minutes at 10 pounds pressure.
The thick, creamy texture makes Jacob's Cattle beans perfect for dehydrating into bean flour. Cook beans until very soft, dehydrate thoroughly, then grind in a high-powered blender. Store bean flour in the freezer for up to 6 months and use in baking or as a protein-rich soup thickener.
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, repels bean beetles
Summer Savory
Improves bean flavor and growth while deterring bean beetles
Carrots
Deep roots don't compete with shallow bean roots, beans provide nitrogen for carrots
Corn
Provides natural support structure, beans fix nitrogen that corn can utilize
Catnip
Repels aphids, ants, and flea beetles that commonly attack beans
Radishes
Break up compacted soil, mature quickly before beans need full space
Rosemary
Repels bean beetles and carrot flies, aromatic oils deter various pests
Keep Apart
Onions
Can inhibit bean growth and nitrogen fixation through root exudates
Sunflowers
Allelopathic compounds inhibit bean germination and growth
Fennel
Inhibits growth of most garden plants including beans through allelopathy
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #2346400)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good tolerance to common bean diseases
Common Pests
Mexican bean beetle, bean leaf beetle, aphids
Diseases
Anthracnose, bacterial blight, rust