2023 Little Easy Bean Network - Beans Beyond The Colors Of A Rainbow

Zeedman

Garden Master
Joined
Dec 10, 2016
Messages
3,890
Reaction score
11,931
Points
307
Location
East-central Wisconsin
My husband was forced to eat frozen cooked lima beans as a child, and now hates them. He goes on and on about how awful they are. So I have purchased seed, and plan to grow them and not tell him what they are. If all of you are growing them they must have some redeeming qualities, right??
I love fresh butterbean limas, much better than canned. But limas need heat to do well. If I lived in your climate, @Branching Out , I would consider growing some of the white-seeded runner beans instead. Runner beans thrive in cooler climates... and they have HUGE shellies, to rival or exceed even the largest limas. @aftermidnight (also from BC) grew Piekny Jas, which is a delicious white-seeded runner bean. It does OK here, I have a couple pints of shellies in the freezer. Gigandes, Bianco de Spagna, and Royal Corona are similar varieties.

These were the Piekny Jas shellies:
20211021_180655.jpg
 

Blue-Jay

Garden Master
Joined
Jan 12, 2013
Messages
3,169
Reaction score
9,713
Points
333
Location
Woodstock, Illinois Zone 5
I don't think I'm having any luck with the African Cave beans, unfortunately. Plants are dying indoors left and right. :[

I grew Dalmatian inside my house one year. I didn't start them until mid April. Good size pots with genuine top soil in them from outside in the garden. I didn't get seed until about mid July. Not as many pods but nice quality normal sized seed and pods. I grew them in front of my glass sliding door that is on the west side of my house. Plants only got the afternoon sun from about 1:30 pm to 4.
 

heirloomgal

Garden Addicted
Joined
Jan 17, 2021
Messages
3,609
Reaction score
11,606
Points
235
Location
Northern Ontario, Canada
Heirloom Gal, just curious how you water your beans on your counters and floor without getting everything wet and messy? BTW, I worry over my Network Beans just like you do. You're not alone. 😉
Beautiful plants @Ladyreneer! So cheerful!

For the most part I have the beans in trays that don't have any holes. I didn't have to worry much about getting water on the floors though because I watered them in only moderately when I planted them (not enough for water to leak out), and I only gave water one more time after that. When I did I didn't top water, I dipped each starter pot in sterile water for 3 seconds near exactly and lifted out so no water would come up to the surface of the pots. So, only bottom watering that one time. I do tend to get a bit of soil mix on the floors though bringing the plants in and out as I do, I guess it gets knocked out from the bottom holes. For that, I just blame the dog. ;)
 

Ladyreneer

Garden Ornament
Joined
Sep 8, 2020
Messages
63
Reaction score
196
Points
75
Beautiful plants @Ladyreneer! So cheerful!

For the most part I have the beans in trays that don't have any holes. I didn't have to worry much about getting water on the floors though because I watered them in only moderately when I planted them (not enough for water to leak out), and I only gave water one more time after that. When I did I didn't top water, I dipped each starter pot in sterile water for 3 seconds near exactly and lifted out so no water would come up to the surface of the pots. So, only bottom watering that one time. I do tend to get a bit of soil mix on the floors though bringing the plants in and out as I do, I guess it gets knocked out from the bottom holes. For that, I just blame the dog. ;)
I think I probably/possibly hover over my plants and fuss over them more than I need to do. LOL. 😆 Of course I've got bunches of heirloom tomatoes, squash, zucchini, herbs, etc. all going at the same time.
I was just wondering if there was a secret that I needed to know because my hubby isn't a fan of any kind of plant mess in my house. 😉 (I use the trays to cut down on extra work but I guess with beans they come up so fast there's no need.)
I hope to dazzle him this year with all the fresh veggies! 😋
 

Branching Out

Deeply Rooted
Joined
Dec 2, 2022
Messages
1,371
Reaction score
4,388
Points
175
Location
Southwestern B.C.
report from sister in southern NM is that they have Purple Dove bean sprouts. :) :) :)

my sprouts here have survived and are doing ok.
Flowerbug, I am very curious about this Purple Dove bean. You seem to have a very special attachment to it. What is it about Purple Dove that makes it such a compelling bean for you to grow?
 

Branching Out

Deeply Rooted
Joined
Dec 2, 2022
Messages
1,371
Reaction score
4,388
Points
175
Location
Southwestern B.C.
Last year I grew Anasazi Tepary beans, which was my first time with the teparies. This year I will grow Blue Speckled Tepary and Orange Speckled Tepary, the orange one being rather important as it is a network bean. The Anasazi Tepary beans that I grew last year were on the small side-- but these blue and orange ones are absolutely miniscule. Are there any special considerations for sprouting these? I know that teparies are tiny but tough-- but these look like a strong wind could blow them away.
 

Latest posts

Top