Beans...

[Bluegillman]

How many of you save pole beans? I had a kind that I liked and used it for two years and ran out of them. Had a few left in the package and tried to grow them and then save the seeds but it never got up from the ground...I guess our chicken or our rabbit did eat them before they ever got a change. Now I can't find the package right now, I would find it if I did get any posting on this.

[lovetogarden]

the only pole beans I grow are Old Homestead(a.k.a. Kentucky Wonder)
Any other beans I grow are bush beans.
Are you interested in growing these? Let me know and I'll send you some.

[A.T.Hagan]

I save Florida Speckled pole butterbeans (limas) and if I have any luck with these supposedly rust resistant Kentucky Wonders I planted this year I'll keep them as well.

.....Alan.

[Bluegillman]

OK it was "Spanish Meralda" and I just found out Renee's Garden carries those and it's other name for it is "Musica"

[faye53]

I am planting the florida speckled lima for the first time this year. If they do well I will save seed for next year. I also planted kentucky wonder pole beans. I don't like bending over to pick beans as I am 53 years old and it is just easier to pick standing up.

[TomatoLover]

I got on an heirloom bean kick last year and tried quite a few. I prefer the pole beans, always have. Even though they take a little longer for the beans to reach a usable size, they produce quite a lot in a smaller area and you don't have to bend over to pick them!

The pole beans I grew last year were:

Christmas lima
Carolina Lima (from Monticello)
Caseknife (from Monticello)
Rattlesnake (love this one)
Red Calico (from Monticello)
Kentucky Wonder
Snowcap
Tongues of Fire
Italian Flat
Asparagus Bean
Hyacinth Bean (Monticello)
Purple Pod

This year I am adding:
Cherokee Trail of Tears
Gila River
King of the Garden Lima

TL

[terrianne]

I have been trying pole beans...the deer seem to relish the blossoms. They grow above the stinky plants I use to deter them....I even planted some on the deck in a giant planter...the deer came on the deck! We have a dog this year...I am hoping to have some pole beans.

[Bluegillman]

TomatoLover, That's alot of beans!! How many bushels do u get in a bean season? Do u can them all? Bet all the dried beans are the prettiest colors! :)

[TomatoLover]

TomatoLover, That's alot of beans!! How many bushels do u get in a bean season? Do u can them all? Bet all the dried beans are the prettiest colors! :)
:D I use most of them as dry beans for soups etc., so I don't end up with bushels of them. At Christmastime, I like to mix them all together, fill pint jars, tie on a soup recipe with some Christmas ribbon, and give them as Christmas gifts. Caseknife, rattlesnake, and Kentucky Wonder get eaten as fresh green beans. The extended family gets all they can stand of those and the rest are canned.

TL

[Skywalker]

I am trying Cher. Trail of Tears, Asparagus and Purple Pod this year. Usually plant bush beans, Black Valentine is the best in our area, the woods of W. Ky. Sky

[Horsea]

I have been trying pole beans...the deer seem to relish the blossoms. They grow above the stinky plants I use to deter them....I even planted some on the deck in a giant planter...the deer came on the deck! We have a dog this year...I am hoping to have some pole beans.

If the dog doesn't work out, how about building a fence? If I weren't 2,000 miles away from you, I'd come over & help you...you say that the deer over there in your part of the world seem to like the blossoms. The ones over here seem to like the leaves, only. They ate the leaves, leaving bizarre looking skeletons, but pods formed and I had a great crop last year.

[Jodi]

I'm not a pole bean person really. due to current location limitations bush beans are what I grow. Any one have any seed to spare that have pod colors other than pure green or yellow? Those are the types I'm looking for. Thanks for letting me know.
Jodi

[zebraman]

Hey;If you like unusual pole beans check out www.uga.edu/~ebl/southernheirloom

[deb65802]

I really like pawnee beans, cranberry beans and scarlett runners. You can never have too many beans.

[deb65802]

I love old heirloom southern varieties of beans to which there are hundreds. This year I am going to search and obtain as many as I can. They grow really well here and who can turn down a mess of fresh steamed beans with a little bacon and cornbread>
deb

[Wildflower]

I love old heirloom southern varieties of beans to which there are hundreds.>
deb
Hey Deb, I just ordered some scarlett runners from Bakers. Would you recommend planting them in my kitchen garden or growing them as an ornamental? I don't have alot of space in the kitchen garden and I would rather grow heavy producers there......I'm getting conflicting reports on the scarlett runners. Seems they are lovely, but not the greatest "green bean producer". Thanks for your thoughts.

[deb65802]

I want to try cranberry beans this year.Anyone ever heard of Squaw beans?

[lacy]

I grow and save Cranberry pole beans every year. Christmas lima is another favorite of mine.

[SelfSufficientOne]

My scarlet runner beans did not produced any beans. My asparagus beans were stringy though the description says they aren't.

[deb65802]

Wildflower,
I would grow them to eat but they are also beautiful to look at as well. for me it is food first beauty second. I have 6 mouths to feed. In a small urban lot.

[zebraman]

Hey Wildflower;Scarlet Runners aren't the most prolific but the taste is spectacular!Grow them anywhere for beauty and harvest some really great beans.The pods are a bit hairy but you won't notice after they're cooked.

[Wildflower]

Hey Wildflower;Scarlet Runners aren't the most prolific but the taste is spectacular!Grow them anywhere for beauty and harvest some really great beans.The pods are a bit hairy but you won't notice after they're cooked.

Thanks zebraman! :)