Tobacco Patch Dry Bush Garden Bean

Tobacco Patch 100 days — Also known as 'Tobacco Road' or 'Red Eye'[1] bean, 'Tobacco Patch' is similar in appearance to the New England heirloom 'Soldier' bean. 'Tobacco Patch' bean plants reach eighteen to twenty-four inches in height, are sturdy and erect, and do a good job keeping the four inch pods off of the ground. We do see a small percentage of short runners occurring but it is minimal and the plants do not require support. Primarily grown to maturity and harvested as a dry bean, the pods can be harvest as a green bean at the immature stage before seeds start to develop and before they get fibrous. Keep in mind that these are "old-timey" beans that will probably need to be snapped (ends snapped off and strings removed) prior to cooking. But the reward for the extra effort is a great, full flavor often lacking in modern stringless beans. Additionally, some Southern gardeners wait until the seeds become fully filled out in the pods and harvest at the green "shelly" stage. T