The elusive black panther, a rarity in the wilds of Asia, has reportedly extended its territory to Upstate New York. Their existence was confirmed at Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture by fearless farmer Jack Algiers who gifted a few precious specimens to the Hudson Valley Seed Library in 2010. We’ve nurtured our panthers through a few generations making sure their temperament, health, and habits were well suited to this region. Now this rare breed is available for you to take home and set free in your garden. We recommend letting the pods grow plump, harvesting when still green, and lightly steaming them. Serve with coarse salt and nibble to enjoy their unique nutty flavor while benefiting from their high protein content. (You know we’re talking soy beans, right?) Let some dry on the plants and collect the black soy beans to plant next season.
| Number of Seeds | 50 seeds |
|---|---|
| Spacing in Row | 4 inches |
| Spacing Between Rows | 24-42 inches |
| Planting Depth | 1 inch |
| Days to Germination | 5 to 10 days |
| Days to Maturity | 100 days |
| Height at Maturity | 36 inches |
| Width at Maturity | 18 inches |
Direct sow after last frost. Plants are bushy and attractive, growing to 36" high. Harvest at the ripe stage for fresh eating: pods will be full and will appear just barely yellow. Harvest all pods at once, steam them, then shell and enjoy. Pods can be frozen after steaming. Can also be used to make tofu, tempeh, or soy milk: leave pods on the plant until dry, then harvest and thresh.