Tina Davies Emmerdale Eden Farm and Richard Hebda
January 2025
The Crop-Climate project aims to help people test and find the best varieties for their climates and gardens (https://heritagepotato.ca/crop-climate-project/). This “many eggs in many baskets” strategy prepares gardeners and communities for the uncertain conditions and weather variations that we already experience and will face with even more intensity in the future. Many beginning gardeners are unfamiliar with the best suited varieties for their local area. Even experienced gardeners may not be aware of the most reliable choices for their climate and weather. Seed catalogues provide good information, but this information is meant to cover a lot of geographic territory and may not be as specific as a grower may need. Often the best regional or local varieties are either not known or not widely available. It helps to talk to neighbours (especially longtime residents), and consult local seed lists and companies, to discover the best varieties for their area and specific sites.
Emmerdale Eden Farm near Summerside Prince Edward Island (PEI) has grown beans for many years and made them available locally and through the Prince Edward Seed Alliance (https://peiseedalliance.ca/). We share the top ten dual purpose / dry bean varieties from Emmerdale Eden Farm. Each has photo and a brief note on performance in PEI and includes notes on special characteristics. Where available we include a link to more extensive information on the Crop-Climate website.
Emmerdale Eden farm is located in Linkletter, 5 km (3 miles) west of Summerside at the narrowest point on the Island, so it experiences high winds. The fields are at only 10 m elevation above sea level and 0.5 km (1/3 mile) from the ocean waters of Northumberland Strait. The Canadian Plant Hardiness zone is 5b with a growing season from May to October and 110-120 frost free days.
Many of the top ten varieties are likely suitable throughout the Maritime Provinces and adjacent New England States and almost certainly would succeed in much of southern Canada. All the seeds are available through the PEI Seed Alliance (https://peiseedalliance.ca/) and several may be also obtained through other bean seed suppliers such as Annapolis Seeds (https://annapolisseeds.com/collections/dry-beans) and Heritage Harvest Seeds (https://heritageharvestseed.com/pages/heirloom-bean-seeds-phaleous-vulgaris).
Summary of Top Ten common beans for P.E.I. from Emmerdale Eden Farm. All are bush beans except Annie Jackson’s pole variety.
| Variety | Days to snap | Days to dry | Weather adaptations |
| Black Valentine | 55 | 90 | Tolerates cold and adverse weather |
| Blue Jay | 60 | 90 | Yields when cool |
| Canadian Wonder | 60 | 110 | Yields when cold and wet |
| Thibodeau du Comte Beauce | 45 | 70 | Very early, dries well in cool weather |
| Goose Gullett | 110 | ||
| Gysi | 80 | Reliable yields | |
| Ireland Creek Annie | 90 | Cool season, disease resitant | |
| Littlefield’s Special | 90-95 | Widely adapted | |
| Weiner Treib | 75 | Very short season | |
| Annie Jackson’s pole | 95-100 | Short season for pole bean |
1) Black Valentine – 55 days snap, 90 days dry. This old heirloom (pre-1850) is early, cold tolerant & reliable, withstanding adverse conditions while producing masses of straight, tender, delicious, 15 cm (6”) long green beans. This dual purpose variety produces good black dry beans for use in soups & stews.
2) Blue Jay – 60 days snap, 90 days dry. This beautiful heirloom bean is navy blue with beige markings…like an eastern blue jay. Blue Jay yields prolifically under cool conditions. A dual-purpose green bean, it is excellent eaten in the snap stage and also makes a great dry bean. See https://heritagepotato.ca/heritage-beans/blue-jay-discovery-in-the-bean-patch/ for comprehensive description.
3) Canadian Wonder – 60 days snap, 110 days dry. Canadian French heirloom that is extremely popular in Europe but has almost disappeared from its native land. Earliest documentation is 1873, but the variety is believed to be much older. Yields well in cold wet conditions. Growth is dwarf & compact, producing abundant quantities of 12.5-15 cm (5-6”) long pods which are tender, delicate in flavour and have a beautiful shape. Triple purpose being good as a string bean, a fresh shell bean (cook like a lima bean), and in the dry state being delicious in chili & stews.
4) Thibodeau du Comte Beauce – 45 days snap, 70 days dry. An exceptionally early heirloom dual-purpose bush bean from Beauce County, Quebec. Flowers are a deep rosy-pink maturing into delicious straight green pods with purple red stripes. One of the most productive dry bush beans as it dries down even in cool conditions. Makes a good snap bean when young and is good for baked beans.
5) Goose Gullet – 100 days dry. A true Acadian legend, in 1775, Acadians deported from the Bay of Fundy purposely grounded their ships along the shores of Clare County & survivors hid deep in the woods, living with the Mi’kmaq. Apparently Acadians found this bean in the gullet of a downed goose, then saved and planted the seed next spring. This plump maroon & tan seed has been grown by local people ever since. The beans cook up faster than other large beans & have a wonderful earthy flavour.
6) Gysi – 80 days dry. An early and productive, medium-sized ochre flat bean. The bean is both tasty and very easy to grow with reliable yields of dry seeds year to year. Originally from Werner Gysi of Enderby, BC.
7) Ireland Creek Annie – 90 days dry. This old English heirloom was brought to Canada in the 1920’s & takes its name from Ireland Creek Farm in BC’s Fraser Valley where it has been grown since the 1930’s. Very early dry beans suitable for a cool season and also good disease resistant. The mustard-coloured beans have a fine flavour and make their own thick sauce.
8) Littlefield’s Special – 90-95 days dry. Like Ireland Creek Annie a dry bean for short growing seasons. Grows under most climatic and weather conditions giving good yields of kidney shaped white beans that are splashed with black. The variety’s rich taste enhances soups and stews.
9) Weiner Treib – 75 days dry. This bush dry bean matures exceptionally early and is easy to pick from 60 cm (24”) tall plants. The beautiful white and speckled gold seed has an exceptional rich flavour and meaty texture. The beans are excellent for baking, soups, stews & chillies.
10) Annie Jackson Pole– 95-100 days dry. This vigorous Russian pole bean is suitable fresh or dry. The cream and maroon pods mature quickly for dry bean harvest from a tall pole bean. These productive plants yield excellent bean for baking. For more information see https://heritagepotato.ca/uncategorized/annie-jackson-pole-bean-astounding-yields/
