Photo: "Jacob's Cattle" by Accidental Nomad
· CC BY 2.0
Jacob's Cattle beans
Bush · Fabaceae
Jacob's Cattle is a New England heirloom dry bean known for its red-and-white marbled seed coat and excellent baking quality. The variety has long roots in Northeastern and Passamaquoddy food traditions and is typically grown to full dry stage, though pods can also be used at the shell-bean stage. It suits gardeners who want a storability-focused bean with strong heirloom character. Key facts: 80–90 days to maturity, 8+ hours of sun, 4–6 " spacing. Container-friendly (minimum 3-gallon pot).
Updated May 13, 2026·Backed by 2 cited sources
Overview
At a Glance
The essentials first: timing, light, spacing, seed-starting, container fit, and overall size.
Days to maturity
80–90 days
Sun
8+ hours
Full Sun 8 Hours
Spacing
4–6 "
between plants
Seed start
0 weeks
before transplant
Container
Yes
3+ gallon pot
Height
1.5–2.5 ft
at maturity
Planting window
Zone Planting Guide
Switch zones to see whether this plant is a strong fit, what frost timing looks like, and any extra notes worth planning around.
This card updates instantly with viability, frost timing, and any planting notes for your selected zone.
Care
Growing Guide
Everything in one place: seed starting, transplant timing, watering, soil, and structural support.
Seed starting
Germination
Time7–10 days
Optimal temperature75°F
Seed depth1"
Moisture
Watering
Weekly1–1.5 "
NeedsModerate
Drip
Root zone
Soil
pH range6–7
PreferredWell Drained Loam That Warms Quickly And Is Not Overly Rich In Nitrogen.
Resilience
Plant Health
Stress tolerance, resistance notes, and the most common problems to watch for as plants mature.
Curly top virusBeet curly top virus (BCTV); Geminiviridae, Curtovirus
Severe
Disease
Late springPeak window months: Mar, Apr, May.
A virus spread by the beet leafhopper (*Circulifer tenellus*), mainly a problem in the western US — California, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Utah, and Washington. Infected plants get curled, thickened leaves with purple veins on the underside, stunted growth, and fruit that ripens way too early. Tomatoes aren't a leafhopper's preferred meal, but the bugs will land and "taste-test" plants while migrating. A single bite takes seconds and can transmit the virus.
Triggers: Driven by leafhopper migration, not weather directly. The bugs overwinter in foothill weeds and head for gardens in late spring once the wild vegetation dries up. Hot, dry years push more of them into populated areas. Symptoms show up 7-14 days after a single leafhopper visit — and a single bite is all it takes.
Risk fades when: Migration peaks in late spring; once the main wave passes, transmission risk drops sharply. The virus doesn't hide in soil or plant debris between seasons, so risk resets each year.
A soil-borne fungus (*Sclerotium rolfsii*) that attacks plant stems right at the soil line during hot weather. It hits over 500 different plant species. Two telltale signs to look for: white fan-shaped fungal growth on the lower stem, mulch, and soil surface, and tan-brown spherical sclerotia (they look like mustard seeds) on infected tissue. Most active during sustained heat with humid conditions.
Triggers: Optimal at 86°F (30°C) soil and air temperature with humid conditions. Inactive below 70°F. Most damaging during sustained mid- to late-summer heat waves. It extends further north in warmer-than-normal seasons.
Risk fades when: Sustained cooler weather — highs below 80°F and overnight lows below 70°F for 5+ days — reduces fungal activity. The sclerotia (resting bodies) persist in soil for years, so resolution is seasonal, not curative.
Corn earworm is the same species as tomato fruitworm and cotton bollworm — a polyphagous caterpillar that bores into ears of corn through fresh silks, into tomato and pepper fruit, into lettuce heads, and into bean and pea pods. In sweet corn, losses can reach 50%. The species migrates north annually from southern overwintering grounds; in much of the northern US, it does not survive the winter when temperatures drop below 30°F.
Triggers: Overwinters as pupa in top 2-4 inches of soil where winter temps permit. North of I-70 (Illinois IPM): does not reliably overwinter — populations arrive via migration mid-July through September. Females prefer fresh corn silks for egg-laying; older silks rejected.
Risk fades when: Wisconsin Hort, Illinois IPM
Cowpea curculioChalcodermus aeneus
High
Pest
May–JunPeak window months: May, Jun.
The cowpea curculio is a small black weevil that has rendered cowpea production essentially unsustainable across much of the southeastern United States. Adults feed on and lay eggs in green pods; larvae develop inside, feeding on developing seeds, then drop to soil to pupate. Yield losses of 60% have been documented even with moderate infestations. The weevil has become resistant to standard pyrethroid insecticides.
Triggers: Overwinters as adult in soil/debris/weedy margins. Emerges April; feeds on weed hosts (cutleaf evening primrose, moss verbena, wild bean) until cowpeas mature May-June. Female chews hole in pod, lays egg inside. Larvae feed inside pod through 4 instars; drop to soil to pupate. Egg-to-adult 30-40 days. Two generations in AL/GA (May-June, August-September); one in VA.
A seedling killer caused by several different fungi working together. It hits vegetables, flowers, herbs, microgreens, and cover-crop seedlings the same way — seeds rot before they emerge, or young seedlings collapse right at the soil line. Wet seed-starting mix and poor airflow in seedling trays are the classic conditions.
Triggers: Wet soil or starting mix, poor drainage, seedlings packed too tightly, contaminated trays or media, and stagnant air all favor damping-off.
Risk fades when: Drying the soil surface and improving airflow slows new spread. Collapsed seedlings don't recover, but the rest of the tray can be saved.
Damping off of coffee seedlings caused by Fusarium sp. — Photo:
Scot Nelson
·
CC0 1.0
Fusarium wiltFusarium oxysporum f. sp. phaseoli / F. oxysporum f. sp. pisi
High
Disease
MarPeak window months: Mar.
A soil-borne vascular wilt that hits beans and peas through host-specific strains called formae speciales (basically subspecies that specialize in different hosts). Causes yellowing, stunting, wilting, brown streaks inside the stems, and long-term soil persistence — not splash-spread leaf spots.
Triggers: Warm soils, plant stress, soil compaction, and infested soil all favor the disease showing up. Wetness is a contributing stress factor, not the primary infection trigger.
Risk fades when: Weather pressure resolves slowly because soil-borne wilt doesn't disappear once symptoms start. A dry, stable week only lowers stress-driven expression — the pathogen stays in the soil.
The Mexican bean beetle is one of the most serious legume pests in the eastern United States. It looks like a coppery-yellow ladybug with 16 black spots but, unlike beneficial lady beetles, feeds on bean foliage from the underside. Damage creates a characteristic 'lacework' or skeletonized appearance, often turning entire plantings brown.
Triggers: Overwinters as adult in leaf litter/field margins. Emerges spring, females lay yellow egg masses (40-75) on leaf undersides. 4 larval instars. One generation in north; 2-3 in south. Peak July-August.
Risk fades when: MOFGA, NC State confirm summer peak
Poor pod setPod set failure in legumes is almost always a nighttime heat problem. Snap bean pollen becomes nonviable when night temperatures stay above 68°F; lima beans fail above 70°F.
High
Physiological
SummerPeak window months: Jun, Jul, Aug.
Pod set failure in legumes is almost always a nighttime heat problem. Snap bean pollen becomes nonviable when night temperatures stay above 68°F; lima beans fail above 70°F. Pollen quality drops, fertilization is incomplete, and the plant either drops the flower or sets a short twisted lumpy pod with few seeds inside. Daytime heat above 95°F adds to the problem but nights are the dominant factor. Peas behave similarly but earlier in the season — pea pod set fails when daytime temperatures climb above 80°F. Plants typically resume normal pod production once cooler weather returns; lost flush isn't recovered but later sets are normal. Plant heat-tolerant varieties (Annihilator, Jaguar, Dominator for snap beans) for mid-summer plantings and time spring sowings to flower before peak heat.
Triggers: Per UC ANR/UDel Extension: snap beans fail pod set when night temps >68°F sustained, lima beans >70°F. Day temps >95°F compound the problem but nights are dominant. Peas fail when day temps >80°F. Moisture stress at bloom compounds heat damage. Some varieties (Annihilator, Jaguar, Dominator for snaps; Cypress, Big Mama for limas) are screened for heat tolerance and produce better through summer heat waves.
On Jacob's Cattle Bean: Drought or heat during bloom reduces seed fill.
Prevention: Keep water even through flowering and pod set.
Risk fades when: Bean plants typically resume normal pod set within 1-2 weeks of cooler nights. Lost flowers don't recover but new flowers form and set normally. Maintain consistent watering through heat — moisture-stressed plants suffer worse pod set.
Root maggot complexDelia spp. complex: D. radicum (cabbage maggot), D. platura (seedcorn maggot), D. florilega, D. planipalpis
High
Pest
Jan–DecPeak window months: Jan, Dec.
The Delia root-maggot complex includes the cabbage maggot (D. radicum) on brassicas and root crops, the seedcorn maggot (D. platura) on bean/pea/corn seedlings, and several other species. Larvae tunnel into roots, basal stems, and seeds, killing seedlings outright or creating tunnels that ruin root crops for market. A 2021 Oregon industry survey found 100% of root crop growers reported cabbage maggot damage; 44% with 10-25% yield loss.
Triggers: Overwinter as pupae in soil/crop residue. Adults emerge early spring (300-600 GDD base 40°F after Jan 1 in PNW). Cool moist soils favor egg survival; soil >95°F in top 2-3 inches kills eggs. Multiple generations per year. Seedcorn maggot attracted to decaying organic matter — high risk after fresh-incorporated cover crop.
Risk fades when: U Maine
Root rotPythium spp. / Phytophthora capsici
High
Disease
May–AugPeak window months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug.
A water mold (not a true fungus) that attacks roots and crowns in waterlogged soil. It's most dangerous in heavy, poorly drained soil after extended rain — basically any time water sits around plant roots for days.
Triggers: Pythium infects from 50-95°F as long as the soil stays saturated. Phytophthora capsici is most active at 75-85°F. What matters most is how long the soil stays waterlogged, not just whether it rained.
Risk fades when: Risk fades when soil returns to field capacity (normal drained moisture). How long that takes depends on your soil — sand drains in hours, clay can take days.
Aphids are soft-bodied sap-sucking insects that cluster on tender new growth. Most established plants tolerate moderate populations and will outgrow damage on their own, but aphids are the most important plant virus vectors in the garden, transmitting more than 100 plant viruses including potato leafroll, cucumber mosaic, and turnip mosaic. Honeydew excreted while feeding supports sooty mold growth and attracts ants that protect aphids from natural enemies.
Triggers: Optimal development at ~75°F (green peach aphid) per UC IPM Floriculture; melon aphid develops fastest above 75°F. Many species heat-intolerant above 90°F and crash in mid-summer. Soft new growth and over-fertilization with high N favor population buildup. Females give live birth parthenogenetically most of growing season — one generation in ~1 week under optimal conditions.
Risk fades when: Per UC IPM and Clemson HGIC, populations crash in mid-summer heat (>90°F) for many species, return in cooler conditions
Covers both halo blight and common bacterial blight on beans. Look for water-soaked spots on leaves and pods with yellow or greenish halos. Spreads aggressively in rainy, windy weather and reduces both yield and quality.
Triggers: Rain, wind, splash irrigation, handling wet plants, contaminated seed, and infected plant debris all drive spread.
Risk fades when: Bacterial spread is water-driven. Four dry days without splash events lowers immediate spread risk significantly.
Hibiscus: Bacterial leaf spot caused by Pseudomonas cichorii — Photo:
Scot Nelson
·
CC0 1.0
Bean common mosaic virusPotyvirus (Bean common mosaic virus, BCMV)
Moderate
Disease
Year-roundPeak window months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec.
An aphid-transmitted potyvirus and the most widespread virus of common beans. Causes mottled light and dark green leaves, leaf distortion, and reduced pod set. Some strains cause systemic necrosis (black death of stems and leaves) in susceptible varieties. The virus is also seed-transmitted — infected seed produces infected plants. Resistance (coded BCMV) is widely bred into modern bean varieties. Numerous strain variants exist (NY15, US1, others) with corresponding resistance genes (I gene, bc-1, bc-2, bc-3).
Triggers: Aphid-transmitted, also seed-borne. Active during warm aphid-favorable weather.
Cucumber mosaic virus on passionfruit leaf — Photo:
Scot Nelson
·
CC0 1.0
Bean pod mottle virusComovirus (Bean pod mottle virus, BPMV)
Moderate
Disease
SpringPeak window months: Mar, Apr, May.
A beetle-transmitted virus of beans (primarily soybean but also snap and dry beans) spread mainly by bean leaf beetles. Causes mottled leaves and characteristic mottled or discolored pods that reduce marketability. The virus overwinters in beetles and weed hosts. Resistance is less developed than for BCMV — management focuses on beetle control and clean seed. Most commonly a concern in regions with established bean leaf beetle populations (Midwest and Mid-Atlantic).
Triggers: Bean leaf beetle-transmitted. Active when beetle populations are active (warm spring through summer).
Fuzzy gray mold on flowers, fruit, and wounded tissue. It thrives in cool, humid, enclosed spaces — University of Minnesota notes this is unlikely to be a problem in open home gardens and rare even in field tomatoes. It's mostly a greenhouse and high-tunnel concern, included here because SoilStack supports those growing environments.
Triggers: Develops at 60-75°F with humidity above 80%. Infection requires 4-6 hours of standing water on the plant tissue. UMN's data shows it's unlikely in open home gardens.
Risk fades when: Temperatures above 82°F suppress growth and spore production. That's the published threshold.
Different from cucurbit powdery mildew, this one mainly affects peas and some beans. It forms white powdery growth on leaves, stems, and pods — especially on late-planted or late-maturing legumes during warm, humid stretches.
Triggers: Warm temperatures, humid plant canopies, poor airflow, and late plantings all favor the disease. Rain isn't required and may even slow it down by knocking spores off.
Risk fades when: Activity drops when weather moves outside the warm, moderately humid range it likes. Hot spells above the favorable zone reduce new pressure.
Root knot nematodeMeloidogyne spp. (M. incognita, M. hapla, M. javanica, M. arenaria)
Moderate
Disease
WinterPeak window months: Jan, Feb, Dec.
Microscopic soil-dwelling roundworms that burrow into plant roots and cause swollen knots (galls). Above ground, the plant looks stunted, yellowed, and wilted even with plenty of water. They attack over 2,000 plant species, so almost nothing is safe. They're most active in warm soil (70-85°F) and do more damage in sandy soils, where they move easily. Once a bed has them, populations stick around for years.
Triggers: Soil temperatures of 70-85°F are ideal for them; below 60°F they go dormant. Sandy soils make it easy for them to move and reproduce, while heavy clay slows them down considerably. In warm soil, a full generation completes in about 27 days.
Risk fades when: Activity drops sharply once soil cools below 60°F. Damage stops accumulating for the season, but the population stays in the soil and returns when warmth does.
Root knot nematodesMeloidogyne incognita (southern, thermophilic), M. hapla (northern, cool-tolerant), M. javanica, M. arenaria
Moderate
Pest
WinterPeak window months: Jan, Feb, Dec.
Root-knot nematodes are microscopic plant-parasitic roundworms that infect roots and cause characteristic galls (knots), distinguishable from beneficial legume nitrogen-fixing nodules because the galls cannot be rubbed off. Infected plants show stunting, yellowing, and wilting in heat. They are most damaging in sandy soils, in warm weather, and after years of growing susceptible crops in the same beds. NC State estimates two-thirds of NC crop fields are affected.
Triggers: Sandy/light-textured soils most favorable. Soil temps 70-85°F most active. Inactive below 60°F (NC State). Continuous cropping of susceptible hosts builds populations. Moderate drought amplifies damage. Egg-to-adult 27 days at typical growing temps.
Slugs and snails are nocturnal mollusks that chew irregular holes in leaves and clip off succulent seedlings. They leave characteristic silvery slime trails. Hermaphroditic and prolific, brown garden snails lay around 80 eggs per month for up to six clutches per year.
Triggers: Active at night and early morning in damp conditions. Coastal CA and southeast — active year-round. Spring rains and dense ground cover (mulch, debris, weeds) create harborage.
Risk fades when: UC IPM
Spider mitesTetranychus urticae (two-spotted spider mite, most common); also broad mite (Polyphagotarsonemus latus), russet mite (Eriophyidae)
Moderate
Pest
Jul–SepPeak window months: Jul, Aug, Sep.
Spider mites are tiny arachnids (1/50 inch) that feed on the undersides of leaves, producing characteristic silver-yellow stippling. Heavy populations produce visible webbing that interferes with pesticide coverage. They thrive in hot dry weather and drought-stressed plants. The two-spotted spider mite feeds on more than 180 cultivated plant species.
Triggers: Hot dry conditions; >90°F lifecycle <2 weeks. Drought stress amplifies. Broad-spectrum sprays (carbaryl, pyrethroids) trigger outbreaks by killing predators. Wisconsin Ext: 'as little as a month without significant rain during the growing season can favor a mite outbreak.'
Risk fades when: UMN Extension
Sweetclover weevilSitona cylindricollis
Low
Pest
WinterPeak window months: Jan, Feb, Dec.
The sweetclover weevil is a small gray-brown weevil specializing on sweet clover (Melilotus spp.), with secondary feeding on alfalfa and ladino clover. Adults notch leaf edges; larvae feed on roots and nitrogen-fixing nodules. Most damage occurs on cotyledon-stage seedlings — established stands in the Canadian prairies typically tolerate populations without significant yield loss.
Triggers: Diapause as adult overwinter. Cultivar selection matters — Melilotus alba less preferred than M. officinalis; wild M. infesta least preferred (Soroka & Muir). Nitrate fertilizer levels don't affect feeding.
Risk fades when: Craig 1978
12 more issues below · Show all 22 ↓
Feeding & picking
Nutrition & Harvest
How hungry the plant is, what ripe harvest looks like, and how long the crop keeps after picking.
Feeding
Nutrition
Feeding intensityLight feeder
Timing
Harvest
For shell beans, pods are green and full; for dry beans, pods turn tan and seeds rattle.
Expected yield0.5–1.5 lbs/plant
Storage240 days — Dry beans thoroughly, shell, and store airtight in a cool, dark place.
Stay in the loop
Planting reminders for Jacob's Cattle Bean
Frost warnings, zone-specific timing, and seasonal nudges -- sent only when there's something to act on. Free, unsubscribe anytime.
Get Personalized Planting Reminders
Frost alerts, zone-specific tips, and seasonal guidance. Free, unsubscribe anytime.
What you'll need
Growing Supplies
Based on Jacob's Cattle Bean's growth profile -- recommendations matched to this variety's specific requirements.
Seed starting tray + heat mat
For gardeners who start seeds indoors, this combo improves even germination. Warm-season crops benefit from bottom heat. Look for a rigid tray, cell inserts with drainage, and a heat mat paired with a thermostat.
Source: Utah State University Extension; Iowa State University Extension; Mississippi State University Extension
Nearly every garden benefits from mulch for weed suppression, moisture conservation, and soil temperature moderation. For most home gardeners, quality organic mulch is the better buy over landscape fabric.
Source: Penn State Extension; Wisconsin Horticulture; Illinois Extension
Every gardener benefits from putting water at the root zone instead of on the leaves, because drip and soaker systems reduce foliar disease pressure by limiting leaf wetness and soil splash. A quality kit should include a backflow preventer, filter, pressure reducer, and UV-resistant tubing.
Source: Iowa State University Extension; Colorado State University Extension; UMass Extension
Row cover adds frost protection, speeds early growth, and physically excludes insect pests without spraying. Look for spun-bonded fabric with a stated weight and frost rating, UV resistance, and enough width for hoops or low tunnels.
Source: University of Maryland Extension; University of New Hampshire Extension; Colorado State University Extension
K-State Research and Extension and University of Maryland Extension recommend shade cloth as a heat-management tool for vegetable gardens, with 30 percent shade rating most effective for tomatoes, peppers, and fruiting crops, and 40 to 50 percent for protecting heat-sensitive greens during hot summer months. University of Delaware research found 30 percent black shade cloth tripled marketable yield for bell peppers compared to unshaded plants, and Purdue trials showed shade cloth reduced maximum daily temperatures by 8 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Choose knitted polyethylene with reinforced grommets every 18 to 24 inches, mount on hoops or a frame with open sides for airflow, and remove or vent during prolonged wet weather to avoid increased humidity in the canopy.
Source: K-State Research and Extension; University of Maryland Extension; University of Delaware Cooperative Extension; Purdue University Extension
Reflective plastic mulch (white-on-black or silver)
North Carolina State Extension reports that white-on-black plastic mulch can reduce soil temperature by 5 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit and silver mulch by about 6 degrees, the opposite effect of black mulch which warms soil. This makes reflective mulch the appropriate plasticulture choice for hot zones (especially Zone 9a desert and other high-heat low-humidity areas) where overheating limits warm-season crop performance more than cold soil. Silver mulch adds documented aphid and thrips repellency from the reflective surface. Use only with drip irrigation installed underneath, never use plastic mulch without irrigation, and reserve for late spring or early fall plantings where the surrounding heat is the primary stress.
Source: North Carolina State Extension; University of Arizona Cooperative Extension
A soil test gives a baseline for pH and nutrient status so gardeners can add only what the soil actually needs. Prioritize a mail-in or lab-affiliated kit whenever possible because extension guidance notes that laboratory testing is more accurate than instant readers.
Source: University of Maryland Extension; Purdue Extension; Montana State University Extension
University of Minnesota Extension recommends measuring soil temperature 2 to 4 inches below the surface to decide when warm-season crops can actually be planted, because air temperature and average frost dates do not reliably predict whether soil is warm enough for germination. A dedicated soil thermometer with a 4 to 6 inch stainless steel probe gives gardeners a deterministic reading instead of relying on the calendar alone, which matters most in zones with wide last-frost variability. Look for a waterproof stainless steel stem, a clearly marked vegetable-garden temperature range, and a readable analog or digital display at planting depth.
University of Arizona Cooperative Extension notes that most vegetables root in the top 12 to 24 inches of soil and that hot, dry periods require more frequent irrigation, but watering by habit often wets only the top inch while leaving the root zone dry. A dedicated soil moisture meter with a long probe gives gardeners a deterministic reading at root depth instead of guessing from surface appearance, which is most critical in low-rainfall desert zones (Zone 9a Phoenix) and in raised beds or containers that dry from the top down. Look for a single-purpose moisture meter (not a 3-in-1 or 4-in-1 combo, which trade accuracy for feature count) with a probe that reaches 8 to 12 inches and a clear analog or digital display.
Source: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension
UF/IFAS Extension and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension recommend securing or removing trellises, shade cloth, hoop covers, container plants, and lightweight raised-bed accessories before tropical storms and hurricanes, since loose garden items become projectiles in high winds. Most-relevant for Gulf Coast Zone 8b (Houston, Mobile, New Orleans), Florida Zone 9b (Miami, Tampa), and any coastal area within the Atlantic and Gulf hurricane corridors. Galvanized steel ground anchors resist rust in humid coastal soils, and screw-in spiral anchors hold significantly better than driven stakes in saturated soil during storm conditions. Use quick-release fasteners on shade cloth and trellises so they can be removed quickly when a storm watch is issued.
Extension guidance favors bypass designs because they make cleaner, closer cuts on living tissue than anvil types. Look for hardened steel blades that can be sharpened, a comfortable grip, and a cutting capacity matched to real home-garden stems.
Source: University of New Hampshire Extension; Iowa State University Extension; Purdue University Extension
Raised beds improve drainage, let gardeners control soil from day one, reduce compaction, and make gardening more accessible. A quality kit should use rot-resistant, food-safe materials and provide enough depth for productive rooting.
Source: Penn State Extension; University of Delaware Cooperative Extension; Illinois Extension
The most useful mix is three categories: a beginner guide, a reference manual for diagnosis and crop-by-crop lookup, and a soil science book. Look for region-aware editions, strong visuals, and evidence-based authorship.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. These are Amazon affiliate links -- if you buy through them, SoilStack earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. It's how we keep the app free and the calendar ad-free. We only link products that match what the research says you actually need.
Research
Sources
Reference material and extension guidance used to build this growing guide.
university Utah State University Extensionuniversity Clemson Cooperative Extension HGIC — Bean & Southern Pea Diseases
Keep exploring
Related Plants
More plants from the same family or type that fit naturally alongside this guide.
