This striking dark purple-black bean carries the culinary traditions of Latin America into northern gardens with remarkable reliability. The Doug Baty family of Dixon, Montana has carefully preserved this select strain originally collected from a Mexican village, creating a northern-hardy treasure that matures in 95 days. Compact 20-inch bushes produce abundantly without staking, delivering beans packed with anthocyanins and rich, meaty flavor perfect for authentic frijoles refritos and vegetarian chili.
Full Sun
Moderate
?-?
20in H x 8in W
—
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
What sets Black Turtle apart is its exceptional cold tolerance for a bean with such authentic Latin American heritage. The deep purple-black coloration signals high anthocyanin content, making these beans as nutritious as they are flavorful. Despite originating in Mexico, this carefully selected strain thrives reliably even in northern growing conditions, producing heavy yields from compact, productive bushes that require no support.
These beans excel in traditional Latin American preparations, particularly frijoles refritos where their meaty texture and rich flavor shine. They're ideal for hearty vegetarian chilis, black bean soups, and Cuban-style rice and beans. While primarily grown as dry beans for storage and cooking, young pods can also be harvested and eaten as fresh string beans, offering dual-purpose versatility in the kitchen.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Direct sow outdoors after all danger of frost has passed and soil temperature reaches at least 60°F. Soak beans overnight before planting to improve germination. These beans are sensitive to cold and do not transplant well, making direct sowing the recommended method.
For dry beans, allow pods to remain on the plant until they become dry and brittle, typically by late summer after 95 days. If hard frost threatens before pods are fully dry, pull entire plants and hang them to finish drying indoors, then thresh to release the beans. For fresh eating, harvest young pods when tender. Pick frequently to maintain plant productivity and consider succession planting for extended harvest.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
“This Black Turtle strain tells the story of seed preservation across borders and generations. Originally collected in a village in Mexico, these beans found their way to Dixon, Montana, where the Doug Baty family grew and carefully selected them for many years. Through their dedicated stewardship, they developed a northern-hardy strain that maintains the authentic character of the original Mexican beans while adapting to cooler growing conditions. Baker Creek now offers this family-preserved selection, ensuring this cross-cultural bean legacy continues in gardens across North America.”