Hidatsa Shield Bean

These beans have good germination, climb high, and are prolific. This is my second year planting them, and I'm growing even more this year. Next year, even more. For one thing, dry beans are low-maintenance, which my poor old body likes. I channel Buffalo-Bird Woman when I plant these. Most important, they cook up delicious.

This was my first year growing this variety, and I’m saving seed for next year! Germination was excellent, and other than running a hoe along the row and giving them a net to climb, I did nothing for them. But one of my favorite parts was how easy they are to shell. I let them dry on the vine until Oct 1 here in Central Minnesota, and barely had to squeeze the pod to make them burst. Great bean to start my grandson growing, easy to grow and fun to harvest.

Contrary to the information on Seed Savers, I actually found these to be bush beans. Even when planted close to corn or supports, the plants prefer bushing to climbing.

They make beans about half a thumbnail in size. Harvest them quickly or else they're prone to sprouting in shell.

Overall, the color is great and you should get quite a few beans per plant.

I grew these tenacious beans up some corn, which unfortunately shaded them in late summer and I think limited productivity but the beans I did get are gorgeous and so incredibly tasty!! Am saving seed and will grow again next year