2025 Little Easy Bean Network - Growers Of The Future Will Be Glad We Saved

[heirloomgal]

Wouldn't you know just after I posted about Ohio Pole, a new development.

Don't know if this will help anybody, but will share just in case. I discovered today the #1 enemy to the drying of my pods. Warmth. I was checking my pods daily and they were drying perfectly out in my sunroom, which was quite cool if not cold though sunny. 2 days ago I brought them inside because we were getting below freezing temps. Within that short time, despite a fan, and the heat being on to dissipate fall dampness, they started to both sprout and go mouldy!

I emptied the pods even though the beans weren't 100% dry because there was no choice at this stage. I'd rather take my chances in that direction, than leave them in the pods. Luckily, a couple handfuls dried perfectly & I have more than enough to grow it again if I lose the rest. Wow, a tough bean to dry! That's 3 of us struggling! I feel certain that if I had left them outside they would have been fine. Hindsight is 20/20.

 

[heirloomgal]

The Ohio Pole seeds from today that I saved, the dried ones and the not so dry ones. The seeds were not attached to anything inside the pods, they all basically fell out when I opened them so they're mature, just not dry clearly. I can only hope that the seedcoats don't shrivel, that seems to be what happens when a bean gets shelled too early. Maybe Ohio is different. It would be amazing if it still dries down nicely despite coming out of the pod not fully dried. It's such a highly unusual variety, nothing would surprise me. Thank heavens I thought to check them today, I would have lost most of them if I didn't.