A very early-maturing bush bean with rich flavour, suited to short growing seasons.
🔑 At a glance
🍲 Use: Baking, soups, stews, chili
⏱️ Days to maturity: ~75–95
🌿 Growth habit: Bush (determinate)
📈 Yield: Moderate
🌦️ Reliability: High (short-season)
Why it matters
Wiener Treib is one of the earliest dry beans available, making it especially valuable in short-season or cool climates where many beans fail to mature.
Origin & history
A European heritage variety known since at least the late 19th century, Wiener Treib (translated as “Vienna sprout”) has been preserved through seed-saving networks and more recently shared through projects such as the Sunshine Coast Bean Seed Project.
Growing notes
- Compact bush plant, typically 50–70 cm tall
- Determinate: plants stop growing once pods mature
- Pods borne mostly in upper half of plant
- Easy to harvest due to upright habit
- Rapid development once established
Performance & Climate
Performance snapshot
- Yield: ~0.14 kg/m (coastal BC trial)
- Days: ~75–95 depending on sowing time
- Reliability: High in short seasons
- Key trait: exceptionally early dry-down
Observed performance
Saanich Peninsula, BC (Coastal)
- Days: ~90–95 (early May sowing)
- Yield: ~0.14 kg/m
- Notes: Very early maturity; complete harvest by early August
- Source:
Prince Edward Island (Zone 5b)
- Days: ~75 (later sowing, warmer conditions)
- Notes: Very short-season performer; dries reliably
- Source:
General observations
- Later planting in warm soil significantly speeds maturity
- One of the earliest beans to produce dry seed in Canada
- Yield is modest compared to larger or pole types
In the kitchen
A small bean with firm texture and rich flavour.
- Described as having a nutty aroma
- Produces a meaty texture when cooked
- Excellent for:
- baked beans
- soups and stews
- chili
