2025 Little Easy Bean Network - Growers Of The Future Will Be Glad We Saved
- Thread starter Blue-Jay
- Start date
oxbow farm
Chillin' In The Garden
This year I did a small comparison trial between Dolloff pole bean and Golden Lima, Leigh Hurley on her old "Extreme Gardener" blog speculated that they might be descendants of Horticultural Lima, or one or both might BE Horticultural Lima. I planted about 15 row feet of a 50 foot row of Golden Lima, and then had about 6-8 feet of Scarlet Runner Beans as a separator, then finished the row with Dolloff. I wanted to see if the plants had any differences in maturity, vine height, color, etc.
With both varieties now drying down pods, I think I can safely make some initial conclusions. Germination speed was similar, both planted on the same day. They both flowered for the first time within a day or two of each other, and the first dry pods were within a day or two of each other.
Vine length was close enough that I couldn't see any difference, nor could I see any difference in the color of the plants or the pods.
Shelled early seeds are indistinguishable.
So, I can't definitively say that these two varieties are identical, but I can say that they're impossible to tell apart. If you were to mix the seed, you'd never be able to separate them. If they aren't the same variety, they are sister varieties so close that it would take a much larger, more scientific trial to tell them apart from their agronomic characteristics or some kind of DNA comparison.
I really like Dolloff, and Golden Lima is basically the same, so I'm not going to grow it again.
With both varieties now drying down pods, I think I can safely make some initial conclusions. Germination speed was similar, both planted on the same day. They both flowered for the first time within a day or two of each other, and the first dry pods were within a day or two of each other.
Vine length was close enough that I couldn't see any difference, nor could I see any difference in the color of the plants or the pods.
Shelled early seeds are indistinguishable.
So, I can't definitively say that these two varieties are identical, but I can say that they're impossible to tell apart. If you were to mix the seed, you'd never be able to separate them. If they aren't the same variety, they are sister varieties so close that it would take a much larger, more scientific trial to tell them apart from their agronomic characteristics or some kind of DNA comparison.
I really like Dolloff, and Golden Lima is basically the same, so I'm not going to grow it again.
Triffid
Deeply Rooted
I did but they're on annual leave for several weeksi would ask them what they think.
Decoy1
Garden Addicted
I can also confirm that I had pure white flowers last season from seed donated by P. Suckling. Thank you,P.S.
ruralmamma
Deeply Rooted
Voles are enjoying my paste tomatoes but thankfully leaving the beans alone so far.
Seems that I may have had a little bit of a cross in the garden last year as mom mentioned a purple-podded plant growing among her heirloom cutshort beans. Without a doubt it was likely a cross with Trionfo Violetto as that's the only purple-podded bean I've grown. Unfortunately it has the string characteristic of the cutshort. Questioned mom to make sure there wasn't an obvious buff colored seed in the mix and she's going to save a few pods for seed. This is in their bigger garden at my grandma's property and hopefully I get a chance to visit and make observations soon.
Seems that I may have had a little bit of a cross in the garden last year as mom mentioned a purple-podded plant growing among her heirloom cutshort beans. Without a doubt it was likely a cross with Trionfo Violetto as that's the only purple-podded bean I've grown. Unfortunately it has the string characteristic of the cutshort. Questioned mom to make sure there wasn't an obvious buff colored seed in the mix and she's going to save a few pods for seed. This is in their bigger garden at my grandma's property and hopefully I get a chance to visit and make observations soon.
flowerbug
Garden Master
it's ramping up to the most crazy time of the bean season here and i'm glad for it because it has been a real challenge this year to even get to this point. 
P Suckling
Attractive To Bees
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2018
- Messages
- 48
- Reaction score
- 149
- Points
- 63
You are welcome. They are the identical strain to those from HSL. Both originated from Mr Yeoman's Gardening Guild, and he had them from the USA, from Brook Elliott's Appalachian Heirloom Conservancy. All of Mr Yeoman's special varieties have found a home at HSL after his passing. Just hope that they adapt to your conditions speedily and make good pods for you this year Decoy.
flowerbug
Garden Master
came across this looking for something else today - it's not solely related to beans, but still an interesting short read:
seedsavers.org
Hope and Practice: Robert Lobitz - SeedSavers
Longtime Exchange lister Jim Tjepkema shares the seed-saving and seed-sharing story of the late Robert Lovitz in the Hope and Practice series.
seedsavers.org
Artorius
Garden Addicted
- Joined
- Oct 29, 2019
- Messages
- 582
- Reaction score
- 2,926
- Points
- 205
- Location
- Holy Cross Mountains, Poland
The flower shoots of Mongeta del Ganxet Xic are getting larger. I think the flowers will open in three or four days. It seems this ecotype is indeed earlier than other Ganxets.
SusanneinHastings
Attractive To Bees
The gigantes Greek runner beans are starting make some pods. We have had so much rain in the last week that one of the poles started to lean over after the last storm, and I had to find some tent stakes and raid the old electric fence for guy wires. It was a pain to untangle, but it occurred to me that I can use it for the top wire of a trellis next year. hmmm …
It has been so ridiculously hot and muggy all summer. I come home sticky and sweaty from work, run in the back yard and pick tomatoes and whatever, and then go hide inside in the AC. And then on my days off it is even HOTTER.
Today I could only make it till noon. When I came out in the morning a four point buck was in the back yard, and I found that he had eaten a sunflower and some leaves of Frost pole bean that had grown through their anti-critter cage. So I put an extra roll of chicken wire around the gigantes trellis so he doesn’t get any ideas.
It has been so ridiculously hot and muggy all summer. I come home sticky and sweaty from work, run in the back yard and pick tomatoes and whatever, and then go hide inside in the AC. And then on my days off it is even HOTTER.
Today I could only make it till noon. When I came out in the morning a four point buck was in the back yard, and I found that he had eaten a sunflower and some leaves of Frost pole bean that had grown through their anti-critter cage. So I put an extra roll of chicken wire around the gigantes trellis so he doesn’t get any ideas.
