Cunti Muni De Los Yaquis is a prolific Phaseolus vulgaris bean with deep roots in the low desert regions of the American Southwest, specifically preserved from Yoeme (Yaqui) farming traditions at 1,417 feet elevation. This heat-loving cultivar is remarkably versatile: harvest it as a tender green bean when pods are small and flat, or let it mature fully for shelled beans or dried storage. Plants mature to dry seed in just 75 days under Phoenix conditions, making it fast enough even for shorter growing seasons, and they're equally happy climbing a trellis or sprawling on the ground.
—
Moderate
?-?
?in H x ?in W
—
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
From Native Seeds/SEARCH's Seed Bank Collection, this Yoeme Purple String bean delivers an earthy, complex flavor whether you eat it fresh, shelled, or dried. The texture when cooked from dry beans is particularly noteworthy, with a richness that speaks to its desert heritage. Its heat tolerance and rapid maturation are practical gifts to gardeners in hot climates, and the flexibility to grow it supported or unsupported means it adapts to your garden's space and style.
Harvest pods when very small and flat for delicate, tender green beans that cook quickly with wonderful texture. As the season progresses, wait for the beans to mature inside the pods and shell them fresh for immediate use, or leave them on the plant until fully dry for storage and cooking. Dried beans have an earthy flavor that enriches soups, stews, and bean-based dishes with depth and character. The same plant can supply you with three different culinary experiences depending on when you harvest.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Wait until soil temperature is consistently between 60 and 75°F and all frost danger has passed in your region. Space transplants 4 inches apart with 18 inches between rows. Handle seedlings gently to avoid disturbing the roots.
Direct sow seeds when soil temperature reaches 60°F minimum, ideally between 60 and 75°F. Plant 4 inches apart with rows spaced 18 inches apart. Water gently after sowing to settle the soil.
For tender green beans, pick pods when very small and flat, before the beans inside begin to swell noticeably; this gives you the most tender, tasty result. For fresh shelled beans, wait until pods are fuller and beans are visible through the pod, then shell and use immediately. For dried beans, leave pods on the plant until they're completely dry and brown, then harvest the entire plant or pick individual pods. In Phoenix conditions, expect dry seed maturity around 75 days from planting.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
“This bean comes from the Yaqui people of the low desert Southwest, preserved through Native Seeds/SEARCH's Seed Bank Collection as part of the organization's effort to safeguard heirloom varieties from indigenous agricultural traditions. The name itself, Cunti Muni De Los Yaquis, reflects its cultural identity and the specific knowledge systems that developed this cultivar over generations in the challenging low-desert environment at 1,417 feet elevation. By growing and saving seed from this variety, gardeners participate in the continuation of Yaqui agricultural heritage and food sovereignty.”