Seasons/Availability

Tiger's Eye shelling beans are available in the late summer and early fall months.

Current Facts

Botanically a part of Phaseolus vulgaris the Tiger's Eye shelling bean are known as one of the most visually attractive shell type beans available. Sought after for the unique color pattern of its interior beans the Tiger’s Eye can be harvested and used at varying stages of maturity. It can be used as a snap bean when immature, as a fresh shelling bean, or as a dried legume. Fresh beans can be found at farmers markets when in season but most commonly the beans are found sold in their dried form.

Nutritional Value

Tiger’s Eye beans are rich in protein and carbohydrates. Additionally, they offer fiber and antioxidants.

Applications

Tiger’s Eye beans can be used in multiple stages of maturity. When young they can be prepared as a snap bean and eaten raw or prepared in a fashion similar to that of green beans. Most commonly they are utilized when more mature as a fresh shell bean or as a dried legume. Dried beans should first be soaked overnight prior to use. Tiger’s Eye beans can be simmered, sautéed, braised, and roasted. The skin of Tiger’s Eye beans dissolve and beans fall apart when cooked which makes them ideal for use in soups, pasta e fagioli, and stews as a thickener. Beans also work well as a refried bean or in chili. Tiger’s Eye beans also work well when cooked, pureed, and used to make sauces and dips. To store keep fresh Tiger’s Eye shelling beans refrigerated. Beans are best when shelled and used within four to five days.

Ethnic/Cultural Info

Tiger’s Eye beans are also known as Pepa de Zapallo, Eye of the Tiger and Ojo de Tigre.

Geography/History

Tiger’s Eye shelling beans are believed to be native to Chile or Argentina. Tiger’s Eye shelling beans should be planted a few weeks after the last frost has occurred and will be ready for harvest as a snap bean at fifty-five days, as a shell bean within seventy-five days and as a dried bean within ninety-five days. Tiger’s Eye bean plants grow in a bush-like habit and are prolific producers.

Beans are highly-productive, easy-to-grow crops. Pole beans and peas are tall, vining crops that will need trellising support, such as the Staking System. Pole beans and peas continue producing throughout the growing season, allowing for ongoing harvests and fresh vegetables to eat with lunch or dinner every few days. Frequent harvesting of pole beans helps ensure that the plants keep producing. Bush beans, such as soybeans, don’t need much support since they are more robust and compact. Bush bean crops usually mature all at once, which means you'll wind up with a very large harvest at the end of the growing season. Since bush bean crops reach maturity all at the same time, they are perfect to grow if you wish to preserve several batches by freezing or canning to use at a later date. Harvest any beans or peas when they are just full and average-size. Letting them get too large can result in tough, "woody" beans with decreased flavor.

COMMON PESTS: Aphids, Mexican Bean Beetles, Japanese Beetles, Cucumber Beetles

SUSCEPTIBLE TO: White Mold, Mosaic Virus, Fusarium Wilt, Blossom Drop