Bean Report:
-The Solwezi have 2 well formed bean seedlings (the first emerged on the 16th). One is slightly etiolated from not getting enough natural light, but both seem fine and are producing the second set of true leaves. I may plant them in the garden next week. The other two I planted have split their seed coats and are trying to emerge. 2 more are being held in reserve. I anticipate a very vigorous pole bean from these.
-The Piet special have finally begun to sprout. They began to open yesterday. The other two tried to sprout a week or so back, but I think they may have failed as no stem or seedling leaves ever emerged. Again, 2 seeds in reserve.
-The Mammoth Golden Cluster and Admire Snitbonen have not yet sprouted, but I will keep waiting. These came with 3 seeds each and in retrospect I should have saved out a single backup seed for each kind.
-I planted a number of bush bean varieties in the garden last week: Royal Burgundy, Black Valentine, Pencil Pod, Bountiful, Bush Blue Lake, Buckskin Girl and Comtesse De Chambord (the last two from Russ). No activity yet, but the last two weeks have been a bit cool.
Other Legumes
-All of the peas I planted a month ago are up and growing well. The ones planted last Saturday are beginning to sprout, but need some time.
-A number of cowpeas have sprouted as volunteers in my seedling bed, which was last year's cowpea, amaranth and sunflower bed.