New Market Opportunities for Dry Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris): Are NW WA Heirloom Varieties More Productive?

Dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) is a pulse crop that is relatively easy to grow throughout Washington and benefits vegetable crop rotation by breaking disease cycles and providing nitrogen for the following crop. Consumer demand for regionally produced staple crops has opened a market opportunity for dry bean production and niche market varieties (colored, patterned beans) are sold at local farmer’s markets for $6-$14 per pound. Small-scale growers have been successfully growing dry beans in NW Washington for over 100 years, however it is not clear if these varieties are suitable for production on a larger scale. The objective for this study was to compare heirloom dry bean varieties that have been grown in NW Washington for 20-130 years with standard varieties (seed grown outside the region) to determine which are more productive in the region. This study was initiated in 2013 and will be repeated in 2014. In May, 14 NW heirloom dry bean varieties and 11 standard varieties were seeded in a replicated field trial at WSU Mount Vernon NWREC. Plots were 10 ft long, 4 rows wide with 4 replications in a randomized complete block design. Plots were not irrigated, following common practices in the area. Plots were hand harvested 1 Sept. through 1 Oct. In 2013, yield and days to maturity differed significantly among varieties (P <.0001 and P = .003, respectively). Average yield for NW heirloom varieties was 2330 lb/acre and average days to maturity was 109 days after seeding; in comparison, average yield for standard varieties was 2298 lb/acre and average days to maturity was 114 days. Highest yielding varieties were Eclipse (standard black; 3094 lbs/acre), Lariat (standard pinto; 3008 lbs/acre), and Ireland Creek Annie (standard yellow; 2747 lbs/acre). NW heirloom varieties that were next highest yielding were Youngquist (brown; 2612 lbs/acre), Bale (cranberry; 2617 lbs/acre), and Ireland Creek Annie (yellow; 2595 lbs/acre). Varieties with the shortest days to maturity included five NW heirloom varieties: Black Coco (101 days), Decker (101 days), Ireland Creek Annie (101 days), Francis Kring cranberry (104 days), and Rockwell (107 days). One standard variety, Ireland Creek Annie, also matured early (104 days), while all other entries matured from 101-124 days of seeding. Growers in NW Washington would benefit most from dry bean varieties that are early to mature as the onset of rains by late Sept. makes harvest difficult.