Just came in from checking plants, tucking in wandering vines and propping up what needed propping. We had a short, but heavy rain today - hooray! - and the temperature is just beautiful, 75 F/24C. I couldn't have asked for better weather this year for growing network beans. Now that most of the plants are flowering, the heat is just right. I see lots of wee little beans out there on the bush beans, and some of the poles. The moisture has been just about right too. (And thank goodness too because I accidentally drained 1,000 L/264 US gallons) from the water containments because I forgot to close the hose! Uhhh---whoops!)
I'll be curious to see if the network bean Starlite is in fact a pole, right now it's looking like a semi-runner. It's only mid-July though, so time will tell, but there are pods dangling underneath the bushes and just short vines clinging around the bottom of the pole. If it is a semi-runner it will be one of the lower growing ones I'm thinking. Network beans Botsani Splash and Dead Man's Tooth are definitely bushes, not poles.
I know I've mentioned it before, but this is yet another year where bean transplants have worked wonders for network beans. All the varieties that went in as seeds are all climbing the poles vigorously, but they can't compare to the others that went in as transplants. Most of the transplanted varieties have grown above the support and are twirling. Even Harwig's Belgium and Petit Carre de Caen, which are more dainty type pole plants, with smaller leaves and a less 'bushing out' habit, are super tall, looking close to 15 feet tall. I see they even have little pods filling with beans. This year I slouched a bit with the non-network beans, putting many of them in as seeds, but I'm going to really try to start all the beans in pots next year.
