Few heirloom vegetables capture the imagination quite like the 1500 Year Old Cave Bean. According to gardening folklore, this remarkable climbing bean was discovered in a sealed cave in the American Southwest, where the dried beans were thought to have been preserved for centuries in the cool, dry conditions.

Beyond its intriguing story, this is a vigorous and highly productive heirloom that produces generous crops of pods throughout summer. Harvest them young as tender green beans or allow them to mature into dried beans for soups and storage. Easy to grow on a trellis in full sun, it’s a rewarding variety for gardeners who appreciate productive heirlooms with a fascinating history.