FALL OR OCTOBER BEANS: At one time most people of the Southern Appalachians grew at least one variety of fall beans, sometimes called October beans. There are not as many now as there were at one time, but they can still be found in many families. A few are bush beans with tough hulls and used only as shelly or dry beans. However, the majority are climbing beans with tender hulls. Most Appalachian heirloom beans are climbing beans and have strings, the only exceptions I know about being a few climbing fall beans which are stringless.