Provence

Dry bush bean from Kenya via France. 11/16"x1/4"x3/16", 50/oz., finely speckled purple on cream seed, nearly identical to Mrocumiere but somewhat larger (and ripens earlier). A few seeds have large cream blotchy areas which are also raised, or are mostly cream. Pods long straight skinny, up to 6"x1/4" round. Said to be named after the lavender fields of Provence. Seeds turn dark brown with age. Produced reasonably well in part shade. The pods split open if not picked in time and lose the seed. Very productive in long summers. Less than 50% ripened in 2019 (Oct 7 frost) and 2020 (Oct 18 frost). 110+ days to ripe most years, 90+ in 2021. 10 or 20 seeds from 2023 or 2024. I plant 20 of each bush bean variety. 90% 5-year germination. Good for hot dry areas or sunny spots or long summers (such as Provence in France, or Kenya).