Richard Hebda
Our Heritage Bean Project searches for early varieties widely adapted to northern climates especially in Canada. The variety Beka with its beautiful golden-brown seeds appeared as a likely candidate on several seed websites. One colourful source “A Bean Collector’s Window” (https://www.abeancollectorswindow.com/beanpage.html) even suggested it was of Canadian origin. Now grown for two years on the Saanich Peninsula, Vancouver Island, we can confirm that its is one of our earliest dry beans, ready for harvest after very early Drew’s Dandy and just before the Polish white bush variety “Aura”.
Beka grows into a moderately-branched short bush bean from 30-50 cm (12-20”) tall, generally shorter in full sun. It remains mostly compact though it may produce short tendrils. The flowers are white, sometimes turning the palest pink with age.
Green pods develop from the mid point to the top of the bush then mature pale beige. They are firm, straight to slightly curved. Pod length varies from 8-10.5 cm (average 9 cm) (about 3.5 inches). The cross section is round, about 1 cm (3/8”) across. The point is about 1 cm long straight to slightly curved.
Three to five golden brown seeds fill each pod, each seed about 1.0 cm (3/8”) long. They are oval and round in cross section, 0.5 – 0.7 cm (1/4”) wide and high. The attachment scar is brownish white with at brown bump at one end. The scar is surrounded by a light brown ring. A faint mark may extend along the long axis of the seed.
In 2023, I sowed seeds on May 13, obtained from Tina Davies of the Prince Edward island Seed Alliance. By June 3 most of them had germinated. Plants were 25 cm (10”) tall by June 24 when the first flowers appeared and in full bloom June 29. By July 13 5-7 green pods had formed. A month later, on August 14 90% of the pods were dry and leaves mostly yellow. I harvested the pods at this time. The timing of growth stages was similar during 2024, with sowing and harvest about a week earlier.
Days to harvest was 94 in 2023 and 92 in 2024 consistent with information on many internet sites however much shorter than one listing of 104 days. Despite being described as productive the 2023 harvest yielded 0.29 kg in 1.8m of row = 0.16 kg/m (1/10lb/foot) of row, and in 2024 the yield was 0.19kg/m (about 1/8 lb/foot), both values relatively modest for dry bush bean varieties (see Tanya’s Pink for example https://heritagepotato.ca/heritage-beans/tanyas-pink-pod-a-british-columbia-island-original/).
Beka is noted for having a nutty flavour and being suitable for baking and in soups. There is an interesting recipe for “Maple baked beans” on the BC Farms and Food website at https://bcfarmsandfood.com/beka-brown-maple-baked-beans/. Considering the modest yields of Beka you will have to grow a 2-3 metre (6-10’) row to get the 3 cups in the recipe. However, the result of the recipe is large and any extra freezes well.
Beka beans seeds are available from many Canadian sources. The variety is a reliable very early baking bean, recommended for cool climates with short seasons. I suggest starting it under horticultural fleece (=Reemay) and maybe planting a row slightly longer than for other bush beans. I am sure you will enjoy the results.