Dark Red Kidney Bean Seeds – Bush Dry Shelling Beans

Grow dark red kidney beans for a homegrown dry-bean harvest. Also known as Jamaican red peas, these bush-type beans produce large seeds traditionally used in rice and peas, chili, soups, and stews. Let the pods mature and dry on the plants, then shell your harvest for storage.

Variety Highlights

• Botanical name: Phaseolus vulgaris.
• Bean type: Dark red kidney, dry shelling.
• Growth habit: Bush.
• Approximate maturity: 95 days, depending on weather and growing conditions. Allow additional drying time as needed.
• Growing position: Full sun and well-drained soil.

Available Pack Sizes

Choose 1 ounce, ¼ pound, 1 pound, or 5 pounds. All options are sold by weight. The listed estimates are approximately 1,520 seeds per pound and 7,600 seeds per 5-pound bag; actual counts vary with seed size. This listing is for planting seeds, not prepared food.

When and How to Plant

Direct sow after frost danger has passed and the soil has warmed, generally at least a week after your last expected frost. Avoid cold or waterlogged soil, which can cause seeds to rot.

• Sowing depth: Approximately 1 inch.
• Plant spacing: 3–6 inches apart.
• Row spacing: Approximately 2 feet apart.
• Germination: Typically 7–10 days in suitable conditions; timing varies with soil temperature and moisture.

Gently firm the soil after planting and water without saturating it. A bean-appropriate inoculant may be used according to its label, especially where beans have not previously grown; it is not a requirement for germination.

Growing and Care

Keep soil evenly moist once seedlings emerge, adjusting watering to rainfall and weather. Avoid prolonged saturation. Mulch around established plants to conserve moisture and reduce weeds. Weed carefully because bean roots grow close to the surface.

Growing in Containers

Use a roomy container with drainage holes and a well-draining potting mix. Maintain the recommended spacing rather than crowding plants, and place the container in full sun. Check moisture frequently during hot or windy weather and water when the surface begins to dry. Do not leave the pot standing in a water-filled saucer. Container plantings may yield a smaller dry-bean harvest than a larger garden bed.

Harvesting Dry Beans

Allow pods to mature and dry on the plants when conditions permit. If frost or prolonged wet weather threatens, pull the plants and hang them under cover in a dry, well-ventilated place. The beans are ready to shell when the pods are dry and the seeds are hard and rattle inside.

Shell by hand or gently thresh the dried pods in a bag, then separate the beans from the plant material. Drying time varies with humidity and conditions; do not seal beans for storage while they are still damp.

Storage and Kitchen Use

Store fully dried beans in clean, airtight containers in a cool, dry place. Properly cooked harvested kidney beans are a classic choice for Jamaican rice and peas, chili, and hearty stews.

Important: Never eat raw or undercooked kidney beans. Harvested beans require proper soaking and thorough boiling before eating; do not cook raw kidney beans solely in a slow cooker. Do not eat the supplied planting seeds unless their packaging explicitly confirms they are suitable for food use.