Bush Bean: Black Turtle bean

Black Turtle Beans are native to Mexico, and have long been a part of the cuisines of Central and South America. Great for soups, burritos and other dishes, black beans have a meaty texture and are rich in antioxidants. The distinct shiny black seeds are resistant to disease and can tolerate hot conditions. Black Turtle Beans come to maturity about 90 days after germinating, and can be harvested when leaves are falling off or have lost most of their color. These beans are typically eaten as dry beans. Sow seeds 20mm deep, approximately 15mm between seeds. Black Turtle beans  stand out among other types of legumes with their shiny, 2.5mm-inch-long beans, which attain a solid brownish-black color when fully dry. As an annual, turtle beans grow virtually anywhere regardless of the local hardiness zone, but they do require a long, hot growing season with at least 90 days of frost-free weather to grow from seed to harvest. The plants need little care apart from regular watering and dense mulching to bear a plentiful crop of beans; however, they sometimes require additional care if they become infested with insect pests.