Cherokee Trail of Tears Pole Garden Bean
Price: $3.77
SKU: 3030921Also known as 'Cherokee Black', 'Cherokee Trail of Tears' beans were first offered though the SSE back in 1977 by the late Dr. John Wyche, a gardener, seed preservationist, circus owner, and dentist from Hugo, Oklahoma. He shared that his Cherokee ancestors carried the beans over the infamous "Trail of Tears" in the winter of 1838.
Don’t bother trying to get an early start with beans – you’ll waste a lot of seed! Beans are a tender vegetable and you should not plant them until all danger of frost has passed and the soil remains above 65ºF. Sow seeds 1½ inches deep, every two to three inches. As they make efficient use of vertical space, provide a trellis. Use string or twine as wire will heat and burn the tender vines.
For seed saving, allow the pods to fully mature and dry completely out on the vines.
Customer Reviews:
By David S. (Benicia, California) on June 2, 2025
I planted the entire package (approx. 25+ seeds) in a raised bed about 2 weeks ago. ALL of the seeds germinated quickly and the young plants look good!
By Chelsea Clarey on March 15, 2017
A reliable bean that produced till our (late) frost last year. It's easy to let the pods dry on the vine or bring them indoors, then shell. Quite a pretty plant in the garden, too -- lovely purple blossoms throughout the season. We had a house-sitter let us down on watering for over three weeks in the hottest part of the summer, and our 'Cherokee Trail of Tears' beans held out and kept producing. We will plant about four times as many seeds this year!
By Amy Glass on January 12, 2016
Due to moving in early July, I did not get these beans in the ground until mid-July, which most people would consider pointless in Maine. I also unwittingly planted them in a spot where a tree kept them shaded nearly all afternoon. Despite these challenges, these beans grew like crazy! I am pretty sure every seed sprouted and the vines shot up to near the top of my 6 foot garden fence. I got lots of beans into late September, and they even survived one mild frost. The beans tasted great both green and dried, though once they turn purple they're not too good for eating fresh, despite being very pretty. I will grow these beans again and again!
By Rachel Lewis on February 6, 2015
Great bean, very forgiving to new gardener mistakes. I had them in my first garden and managed to over fertilize other plants but these beans kept growing and gave plenty of beans. Good for chilli and burritos. I've never tried them as green beans!
By David Emigh on December 1, 2013
Best tasting soup bean ever. Weather indifferent, totally. No pest or disease problems. I would call them a bit too grassy and bitter for use as a green bean, though. As the 65-90 day count implies, they just never stop blooming and setting (and eight feet is not enough trellis/pole, btw).
