Tepary Bean 'Black Mitla' (Phaseolus acutifolius) seeds
- Ancient dry bean from Mexico – resilient, protein-rich, and ideal for hot locations.
- Contents: Approx. 20 seeds
- Open-pollinated variety, seed tested regularly
€3.79
Description
Heirloom Variety of Indigenous Peoples with Remarkable Resilience
The Tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius) originates from the desert regions of northern Mexico and the southwestern United States. The variety 'Black Mitla' is a traditional heirloom of the Mixtec people in Oaxaca and is known for its small, jet-black beans that are particularly rich in protein and full of flavour. This bean has been cultivated for centuries in hot, arid regions – a true climate-resilient crop for sustainable gardening and self-sufficiency.
Tepary beans are bush beans that grow as compact, low-maintenance plants. 'Black Mitla' stands out for its exceptional tolerance to heat, sun and drought. The black seeds are excellent for hearty bean dishes and are especially popular in Mexican and Southwestern cuisine. Ideal for anyone who appreciates robust, heritage crops with a story.
Read more about the origins and special qualities of this climate-hardy legume in the encyclopaedia entry on the Tepary bean.
Plant profile
| Use | Vegetable |
|---|---|
| Lifecycle | Annual |
| Species | Fabaceae |
| Seed propagation | Conventional production |
| Region of origin | Mexico |
| Characteristics | Drought tolerant, Needs darkness to germinate |
| Flower colour | Rosa |
| Flowering months | August, July, June, September |
| Main harvest | August, July, October, September |
| Fruit colour | Schwarz |
Growing instructions
| When to sow outdoors | July, June, May |
|---|---|
| Sowing depth | 2-3 cm |
| Germination temperature | 18-24° C |
| Germination time | 2-3 weeks |
| Climate | Dry, Subtropical |
| Sunlight | Full sun |
| Water requirement | Medium, No waterlogging |
| Planting distance | 15 cm |
| Row spacing | 40 cm |
| Bad companion plants | Peas |
Sowing and care
Sowing and Care of the Tepary Bean 'Black Mitla'
Sow directly outdoors from mid-May, as soon as no more frosts are expected and the soil has warmed up well.
Germination temperature: minimum 15-16 °C soil temperature, optimum 25-30 °C. Germination takes 4-7 days in warm conditions, 10-14 days or longer in cooler conditions.
Important: Very prone to rotting in cold, wet conditions. Do not soak the seeds, or only very briefly; keep the soil only slightly moist before sowing.
Sow the seeds about 2-3 cm deep in loose soil, spaced 8-10 cm apart in the row. The plants need a warm location in full sun and cope extremely well with sandy, dry soils.
Water regularly but sparingly and avoid waterlogging. It is best to fertilise only lightly with compost.
Depending on the weather, harvest begins from mid-August, when the pods are dry and the beans are hard and fully ripe.
Other names
Botanical name: Phaseolus acutifolius
German: Buschbohne, Wüstenbohne, Tepary-Bohne
English: Bush bean, Desert bean, Tepary, Wild bean
French: Haricot du désert, haricot sauvage, haricot tépari
Italian: Fagiolo del deserto, fagiolo selvatico, fagiolo tepari,
Spanish: Frijol del desierto, frijol silvestre, frijol tépari,
Dutch: Teparyboon, Woestijnboon, wilde boon
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