How to Grow Vermont Cranberry Bush Bean
Phaseolus vulgaris 'Vermont Cranberry'
Vermont Cranberry Bush Bean is a reliable heirloom variety of common bean prized for its bush habit and vibrant red pods. Gardeners grow this easy-to-culture plant to enjoy fresh, tender beans in the late summer garden while appreciating its historical significance.
📷 Wikipedia: Phaseolus vulgarisStarting Vermont Cranberry Bush Bean: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Vermont Cranberry Bush Bean is not usually started indoors.
Direct sow seeds outdoors only after the last frost date once the soil has warmed up sufficiently.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare your soil by ensuring it has a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 with good drainage. Since this is a warm-season crop sensitive to cold, wait until after the last spring frost when the soil is warm before sowing directly outdoors. Plant seeds about one inch deep; they typically germinate within seven to ten days under these warm conditions.
Space plants four to six inches apart in rows to allow proper air circulation. While bush types often need little support, staking can help if vines become leggy. Provide consistent moisture, aiming for one inch of water per week, and apply mulch around the base to retain soil temperature and suppress weeds.
Watch for Mexican bean beetle, bean leaf beetle, aphids, bacterial blight, white mold, and bean rust. Prevent issues by rotating crops, inspecting leaves regularly, and ensuring good airflow. Harvest pods when they are young and tender, usually eighty-five to ninety days after sowing, before the seeds inside fully mature.
When to Plant Vermont Cranberry Bush Bean
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | — | July – August | October – August |
| Zone 2 | — | June – August | October – September |
| Zone 3 | — | June – July | September – October |
| Zone 4 | — | June – July | September – October |
| Zone 5 | — | May – June | September – October |
| Zone 6 | — | May – June | August – October |
| Zone 7 | — | April – June | August – September |
| Zone 8 | — | April – May | July – September |
| Zone 9 | — | March – April | June – August |
| Zone 10 | — | February – April | June – July |
| Zone 11 | — | January – March | May – June |
| Zone 12 | — | January – March | May – June |
| Zone 13 | — | January – March | May – June |
Companion Plants for Vermont Cranberry Bush Bean
✓ Good companions
Repels aphids, spider mites, and thrips while potentially improving bean flavor
Deep taproot breaks up soil for bean roots, doesn't compete for same nutrients
Provides natural trellis support for climbing beans, part of Three Sisters planting
Provides living mulch, shallow roots don't compete, harvested before beans need full space
Repels Mexican bean beetles and aphids, reduces nematode populations in soil
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, deters Mexican bean beetles
Repels Mexican bean beetles and carrot flies without competing for resources
Large leaves provide ground cover and moisture retention, completes Three Sisters guild
✗ Keep away from
Strong allelopathic properties inhibit growth of beans and most other garden plants
Can stunt bean growth and reduce nitrogen fixation through allelopathic compounds
Allelopathic effects inhibit bean germination and growth, competes for nutrients
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
