A theme for my life this year is increasing my ability to be self-sufficient. To that end, I want to start growing some of our food beyond a few tomato and pepper plants in the summer, combined with long term storage.

For next year I want to try a few things… beans, wheat, and potatoes.

My question today is about beans: anybody real knowledgeable in their production? By bean I specifically mean dry beans for both immediate consumption and also storage. We use roughly a pound of dry beans every 7-10 days, usually black or pinto, but also sometimes great northern or navy beans. I think I’d like to grow 2 varieties, so let’s say a pinto and a black, and I’d like to walk away with at least a years worth… call it a combined 50 pounds. Seem reasonable?

I did a bit of searching it looks like around 400 linear feet of beans should get me in the neighborhood, right? Of course that varies by specific plant.

Also, I’d like to do heirloom beans, even if that means I can’t get traditional black or pinto. Any guidance on this?

Just a friendly reminder, dried beans come in a pod!

I HATE shelling large quantities of dried beans or peas. Hours and hours of mindless boredom. YMMV

I actually built an electric sheller we used to use. Shelled up to a bushel at the time in about two minutes… it did leave some annoying trash in the beans that had to be picked out by hand.

I kind of copied one a guy I knew had… he let the public use his for a 50 percent share of the shelled beans or peas.

If your area is anything like mine, you’ll spend a lot of time keeping the bugs off your plants. We have one that lays enough eggs that when the caterpillars hatch, they can destroy everything in a couple days.

Used to grow beans for drying. Not worth the garden space, or processing time, when bulk pintos run about 75 cents a pound. I buy bulk and dry can beans and use that garden space for potatoes.

I have grown beans in the past. I stopped mostly because the reward didn't seem to be worth the effort. I tried bush and pole, and the new wave "let the beans use the corn stalks for support" strategy, not happy with any of them. Mostly for green beans, but these come in in such a rush there are always some that stay on the plant too long, and what else are you gonna do, but let them go until they can be picked for drying? The profuse vineing habit mixed in with stakes or corn stalks makes for challenging management. If you've grown cucumbers, or squash, you know about this.

Part of it is that the rush is short, two or three weeks, and fresh beans of high quality are generally available in the market at low prices at the same time. At least when I was doing it, dry beans were cheap enough in bulk that home-grown didn't seem worth it. In a SHTF scenario, if the situation allows it, I would certainly consider laying in a few rows, the nutritive yield per sq. ft. is hard to beat, and they keep without refrigeration.

As far as varieties go, as I said I was mostly growing for the fresh, and didn't really explore dry varieties. The commonly-grown fresh varieties turn (mostly) into Great Northern's when dried. I did try some heirloom varieties and saw drastically reduced yields. My dad used to grow Anasazi's in the same plot with pretty good results (I don't care for Anasazi's). I think there are plenty of improved Pinto and Black varieties that will outperform heirlooms.

One other thing, bugs love bean plants, all of sap suckers, leaf eaters, pod scabbers, and nematodes. Some of these bugs will be forced by population pressure onto your other plants. If you put them out in the sun to dry, every bird in your State will be there for the smorgasbord. So probably budget for some sort of indoor drying setup.

You cannot grow dried beans, they come wet and in a pod. A lot of work to shell and dry them. Best to find a bulk supplier to buy from. I have one locally and I buy grain, beans, corn and other products in 6 gallon buckets usually about 40-45 pounds.

This link will give you some idea of what is offered. I don’t think they ship but you can find someone local.

https://www.breadbeckers.com/

quote:

Originally posted by JWF:
You cannot grow dried beans, they come wet and in a pod.

Some varieties you can just let dry in the pod and on the vine. Harvesting is a bit labor intensive, but if you've got the space and the time, why not?

For me it isn't worth it (unless I had to). I've got several years of worth of different varieties vacuum sealed in Mason jars.

Perhaps you might consider not putting all your eggs in one basket, so to speak. Store beans from different sources.

I'd buy beans in the #10 cans from an LDS food storage center. 30 year shelf life if stored properly.

There is one in Fresno, looks to be about 30 miles away.

You can buy single cans or buy by the case.

CLINK LINK

If you buy 40-ish pound bags from anyone, you can buy Mylar bags and 5 gallons buckets with lids. Put the beans in, toss in an oxygen absorber, heat seal the Mylar bag, and store in the 5 gallon buckets.

Perhaps member Beancooker here on SigForum will see this and chime in. He works for a really awesome bulk foods distributor. Other members have bought from him and been very satisfied. Beancooker company link They also sell spices, nuts, and more. Or you can email Beancooker.
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Gustofer, you are right, I forgot about the vine dried variety. Still labor intense, I prefer to pry the lid off my bucket.