Tepary Beans

Anyone know how to grow tepary beans? I acquired 2 packages of tepary beans this spring and eagerly stuck them in the ground--about half germinated, which is actually high for my yard with seeds I didn't harvest. One set (4 surviving plants) is in partial shade with good water. The other set (3 surviving plants) is in full sun with little water. Both are in sandy soil. Both were planted end of May. The one in full sun is just starting to blossom (first blossom seen this morning) so I assume part of the problem with the other set is lack of sun. Leaves are maybe an inch long at most, the plants between 6 inches and a foot tall. One of the whole bunch is starting to climb the fence.

I'm assuming at this point that it's a soil problem (most of my yard is a soil problem) but what do these things need to grow well? Deep rich soil isn't going to happen, but the only real information I can find about these (actual growing, not just a sales pitch) is in the PNW with deep rich soil and plentiful water.

Does anyone have experience with these? If I can get one generation to grow the next generation will be better, but I need to get that first generation!

I've grown them here on the East Coast - good yields but small seeds and the pods tended to shatter if I let them dry completely in the garden

https://shop.nativeseeds.org/collections/tepary-beans as some interesting Southwest varieties you might try!

I grew them for a couple of years here in interior northern California.  They are a southwestern thing and want heat....I did not plant them till full summer, probably June 1.  Just average soil....heavy clay in fact.  They are a legume so they don't need particular fertility, especially not nitrogen if they are inoculated.  The beauty of them is that then needed only half, or less, of the water that other things, like "ordinary" beans.  But being a green thing in a dry landscape made them a magnet for deer!  And the yield per area planted was a bit disappointing, especially compared to the vigorous fava bean which can grow through our rainy winter and mature in early summer.

Phil Gardener wrote:I've grown them here on the East Coast - good yields but small seeds and the pods tended to shatter if I let them dry completely in the garden

https://shop.nativeseeds.org/collections/tepary-beans as some interesting Southwest varieties you might try!

I'm not interested in more varieties at the moment--more in figuring out how to get even one bean off the plants I have. Once I have it figured out I'll probably go for others, but not right now.

Yes, they do shatter if they dry completely in the garden. I've learned that much from my reading.

Just heard about these tepary beans and think they'd be perfect here in the desert.

Did you have good luck with them, I just did a search, and this came up?  I'm in southern Utah, so it seems like they'd be perfect out here.  Sine you're in Utah too, any suggestions as far as planting time, type?
I haven't had luck with common beans the couple of times I tried in the past.  My soil is high ph clay with little to no sand.  I could plant in raised compost filled beds, but it seems like that wouldn't be necessary?

I watched a youtube video, and they recommended this site to get them from.  http://store.ramonafarms.com/Tepary-Beans-Our-Heirloom-BAVI/products/5/
Not sure I need a pound of them, but it would probably be a good idea to cook some up to see how they taste.

Thanks,

Josh

To anyone in a semi-arid or arid climate interested:

I got a hold of some P. maculatus and P. ritensis. They are perennial dry-land beans. I encountered them in a paper with the misnomer "perennial tepary" (they aren't true tepary). If you will save some seed and share it with me, I will send them to you to grow out.

This is a crosspost from another thread, but seemed relevant for anyone who would find themselves led to this one titled "Tepary Beans"

...

If you are interested in finding true tepary to try growing, I did a search last year looking for sources. Here are the rest that I've found (I've not ordered from any of these, just found them):

https://www.nativeseeds.org/

https://store.ramonafarms.com/Tepary-Beans-Our-Heirloom-BAVI/products/5/

https://store.experimentalfarmnetwork.org/products/lofthouse-landrace-tepary-beans
(Lofthouse!)

https://exchange.seedsavers.org/page/catalog/search/variety?keyword=tepary

https://www.tradewindsfruit.com/tepary-bean-seeds

https://sandiegoseedcompany.com/product/vegetables/beans/organic-tepary-bush-bean-seeds/

https://www.gardenhoard.com/brown-tepary-bean-wepegi-bawi-seeds.html

https://heritageharvestseed.com/products/blue-grey-speckled-tepary-bean-seeds

https://www.marysheirloomseeds.com/collections/heirloom-beans/products/blue-speckled-tepary-beans

https://www.ranchogordo.com/products/brown-tepary?variant=2570815939

https://abeancollectorswindow.com/network.html
(You have to sift through each "Network" page and use your web browser's search function to find "tepary" on the page. I reached out to him but never heard back. Maybe I should've been more persistent in reaching out. Supposedly, he'll send you a bunch of seeds as long as you send him 60 back from your successful grow out!)

https://greatlakesstapleseeds.com/search?q=tepary

https://www.etsy.com/listing/868142564/brown-tepary-beans-s-oam-bavi-heirloom

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If anyone wants to get very nerdy about tepary, email Dr. Beaver and Dr. Porch - https://www.canr.msu.edu/legumelab/about_us/directory_legume_innovation_lab/index - they know mucho about tepary!