delightful three-stage bean, this is edible first as an early snap bean, then as a shell bean and finally for a plump, black, quick-cooking dry bean. A New Mexico favorite for making refried beans. Direct seed in soil when all danger of frost has passed. Rows should be 12-18" apart. During germination, keep entire seedbed evenly moist. Harvest for snap bean when young and tender. For dry beans, wait until pods are fully develoed and at least 2/3 of crop is dry. A traditional bean stomping will release seeds from pods.