Dry Bean
Good Mother Stallard is a striking heirloom pole bean with maroon-and-white mottled pods that generations of gardeners have relied on for its exceptional productivity and creamy, nutty flavor. This vigorous climbing variety reaches 60 to 72 inches tall and produces an impressive 5 to 6 beans per pod, maturing in 85 to 90 days under warm conditions. Originally introduced by Glenn Drowns, it excels both as a fresh shell bean and in the kitchen, where its tender texture and rich flavor shine in soups and stews.
Full Sun
Moderate
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72in H x ?in W
Annual
High
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These gorgeous, plump beans deliver a creamy texture and hearty, nutty character that transforms simple soups into something memorable. The plant climbs vigorously, yielding abundantly from midsummer through fall, with each pod packed with five or six beans. Its striking maroon-and-white coloring makes it visually distinctive on the trellis, and it maintains its shape and texture beautifully during cooking, making it equally valuable as a fresh shell bean or dried for storage.
Good Mother Stallard shines in soups and stews, where its creamy texture and nutty flavor infuse broths with depth and warmth. It excels as a baked bean, delivering the rich, complex character that elevates this classic preparation from ordinary to memorable. The variety also serves beautifully as a fresh shell bean, harvested at tender maturity for immediate cooking, or as a dried bean for winter storage and later use in any dish that benefits from its hearty, substantial character.
Direct sow Good Mother Stallard seeds outdoors once soil temperature reaches 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit and all danger of frost has passed. Plant seeds 1/2 to 1 inch deep, spacing them 6 inches apart near a sturdy trellis or support structure. Seeds will germinate in 5 to 8 days under warm, moist conditions.
Begin harvesting Good Mother Stallard beans once pods reach full size and plumpness, typically 85 to 90 days after planting. For fresh shell beans, pick pods when they feel full and tender but before they begin to dry. For dried beans, allow pods to mature on the vine until they brown and dry completely, then harvest and shell. Regular picking of tender pods encourages continued flowering and extends your harvest through the season.
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“Good Mother Stallard carries the mark of a true heirloom, preserved and passed along by gardeners who valued its exceptional yields and flavor. The variety was originally introduced by Glenn Drowns, a dedicated seed steward and gardener, who recognized its potential and shared it with the broader gardening community. Its journey reflects the tradition of home gardeners selecting and saving seeds from their best performers year after year, ensuring that varieties like this one endure and continue to nourish families across generations.”