How to Grow Cherokee Pink Bean
Phaseolus vulgaris 'Cherokee Pink'
Cherokee Pink Bean is a beloved heirloom variety of common bean known for its vibrant pink pods and tender green seeds. Gardeners prize this warm-season crop not only for its delicious flavor in salads or cooked dishes but also for its natural disease tolerance, making it a resilient choice for home plots.
📷 Wikipedia: Phaseolus vulgarisStarting Cherokee Pink Bean: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Cherokee Pink Bean is not usually started indoors.
Do not start indoors or transplant; sow seeds directly outdoors only after the last frost date when soil temperatures are warm enough.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, well-draining soil with a pH between 6.2 and 7.0 to support healthy root development. As a warm-season crop, you must wait until after the last spring frost when the ground has warmed sufficiently; do not sow early like cool-season crops. Sow seeds directly into the garden at a depth of about one inch. Expect germination to occur within eight to twelve days under these warm conditions.
Space plants four to six inches apart in rows, ensuring they have room to spread their vines. Provide sturdy trellises or supports immediately, as these beans climb vigorously once established. Water consistently with about one inch per week, keeping the soil moist but not waterlogged. Apply a light layer of mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds without smothering the young stems.
Monitor for common pests like bean weevils, Mexican bean beetles, and cucumber beetles, using row covers early in the season to prevent infestation. Watch out for bacterial blight, rust, and mosaic virus by practicing crop rotation and removing infected plants promptly. Harvest pods when they reach maturity, typically ninety to ninety-five days after sowing, picking them while still young and tender for best flavor.
When to Plant Cherokee Pink Bean
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | — | July – August | November – August |
| Zone 2 | — | June – August | October – September |
| Zone 3 | — | June – July | 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 |
| Zone 11 | — | January – March | May – July |
| Zone 12 | — | January – March | May – July |
| Zone 13 | — | January – March | May – July |
Companion Plants for Cherokee Pink Bean
✓ Good companions
Deep roots don't compete with beans, beans' nitrogen fixation benefits carrot growth
Repels flea beetles, ants, and other insects that damage bean plants
Provides natural support structure for climbing beans, part of Three Sisters planting
Repel Mexican bean beetles, aphids, and other bean pests with strong scent
Act as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, attract beneficial predatory insects
Break up soil for bean roots, mature quickly before beans need full space
Large leaves provide ground cover and moisture retention, completes Three Sisters guild
Deters bean weevils and Mexican bean beetles, may improve bean flavor
✗ Keep away from
Inhibits growth of beans through allelopathic compounds released from roots
Stunts bean growth and interferes with beneficial rhizobia bacteria
Competes heavily for nutrients and may stunt bean development
Inhibit bean growth and nitrogen fixation through root exudates
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
