2022 Little Easy Bean Network - We Are Beans Without Borders

[meadow]

I'm new too, but have read the old threads and taken notes...

Q: Is there a usual number of seeds in the Network packs?
A: My Network packs contain 12, 16 and 17 seeds. Some Priority Beans have come in from sources that only provided a few seeds, so the number can vary (but I think it is generally stated in the first post when it is an unusual situation).

Q: How many of them do people here normally plant?
A: This question came up for me recently, and the responses are golden. Here is the link (be sure to read Ridgerunner's response too; it comes a page or two later): https://www.theeasygarden.com/threa...come-discover-something-new.23813/post-396313

Q: Is it about seed increase first, then food in later years?
A: That is my take on it.

• Top Priority: 60 quality seed go back to Russell
• The remainder is yours to do with as you please.

Q: Since I have older seed, should I pre-sprout them, so I only plant out viable seed?
A: I nearly always pre-sprout, even when it is going directly into the garden. I prefer to start indoors usually, especially if I'm looking to jumpstart the season. If pre-sprouting indoors and planting outside (beans or peas), I very gently use a little 3-pronged tool to prevent crust from forming before emergence. Older seed may not have the strength to break through a heavy crust.

There are some older posts that tell how to nip a bit of skin before pre-sprouting older seed. It allows moisture to get past that tough old skin to increase the chance of it sprouting. Maybe one of the more experienced folks can tell about that.

 

[Zeedman]

Would you consider all of the beans from that supplier suspect? There were at least 3 problematic packages (all bush beans), but the others looked fine.

Yes, because of the aforementioned presence of soil & debris. A certain amount of dry debris is almost inescapable, since static can cause that to cling during seed cleaning - and such light debris is mostly harmless. I clean beans very thoroughly with both screening & agitation; yet when pouring the beans into a plastic bag, a few pieces of debris still may remain & are drawn to the side of the bag by static.

But even the most casual seed cleaning should remove soil, and soil is the greater concern. That is the reason live plants are often banned from crossing state or international borders. So for the apparently good seeds, I would recommend a pre-planting rinse with a dilute bleach solution (as mentioned by @flowerbug ) or as a last resort, pre-treatment with an approved broad-spectrum fungicide.

 

[Jack Holloway]

@meadow Thank you! I've been working onn reading that thread, but only to page 14. And thanks for the rest of the info too!

Also, good question on the seed quality. @Zeedman great information, thank you.

Of course, I tried to order some seed from Quailseed, but of course the cart won't work for me. Last night found a place with lots of interesting seeds, Heritage Harvest Seed, but they are in Canada. . Well, I guess I really don't need more seeds this year at least.

 

[meadow]

@meadow Thank you! I've been working onn reading that thread, but only to page 14. And thanks for the rest of the info too!

Also, good question on the seed quality. @Zeedman great information, thank you.

Of course, I tried to order some seed from Quailseed, but of course the cart won't work for me. Last night found a place with lots of interesting seeds, Heritage Harvest Seed, but they are in Canada. . Well, I guess I really don't need more seeds this year at least.

Quail Seed in Willits, CA? They are very helpful. If you email them, they could probably help you complete your purchase.

 

[Jack Holloway]

@meadow Thanks! They just emailed me, so we shall see. I keep my browser locked down pretty tight. I like to fool myself that I have some privacy on the interwebs.

 

[Ridgerunner]

How many seeds from the "sample" Network pack do you suggest growing? All? Half?

I'd plant all but one or two of them. Keep one or two so you have something to compare the grow-out to. The others I'd plant about half in two different spots in case one turned out better than another, probably about two weeks apart.

Since I have older seed, should I pre-sprout them, so I only plant out viable seed?

I'd see what the first half-planting did before I went to extreme measures.

 

[Pulsegleaner]

What do you folks do when receiving moldy bean seed?

I've picked out the clean-looking ones. After the 'garlic fiasco' I'm wondering if I should be cautious about introducing them into the garden. Maybe grow some out in containers first?

For me, it sort of depends on WHAT bean seed.

A month or so ago, I ordered some special chirmi (rosary pea, Abrus precatorius) seed from England. When it got here, I was astonished how bad the quality was. The black seed was brown and the white was tan and both looked like they had been soaked previously and then allowed to dry out again. I THAT case, I didn't even open the bag, because I know how poisonous rosary pea seeds are. It's perfectly safe to handle them if the seed coat is INTACT, but compromised, I don't think that's worth the risk.

I have since gotten good replacement seed for these, from India.

 

[flowerbug]

bean lecture fun from this evening:

wow it must be fun to have both room and minions.

 

[Artorius]

What do you folks do when receiving moldy bean seed?

I've picked out the clean-looking ones. After the 'garlic fiasco' I'm wondering if I should be cautious about introducing them into the garden. Maybe grow some out in containers first?

First of all, I wonder what lives in the mind of a person who sends such seeds to others. I also got nasty seeds a few times and only if I paid for them. It never happened to me when I swapped seeds with other gardeners.

I only use such seeds when I have no other choice. Before sowing, I soak all seeds in fungicidal seed dressing. Just in case.

 

[flowerbug]

First of all, I wonder what lives in the mind of a person who sends such seeds to others. I also got nasty seeds a few times and only if I paid for them. It never happened to me when I swapped seeds with other gardeners.

I only use such seeds when I have no other choice. Before sowing, I soak all seeds in fungicidal seed dressing. Just in case.

note that while it may be ok to soak beans in a fungicide i would not soak them in a bleach solution, that's much different. (just in case anyone sees this in passing and thinks it is a good idea since it's been mentioned earlier in this thread).