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.

 

[ruralmamma]

We dodged the frost, but had a light coating of ice on the car both mornings. No damage to any of the plants that were left uncovered.

 

[SusanneinHastings]

Has anyone had good production out of the Andikove? I have harvested the last and not a single pod produced more than three beans, and a lot were complete duds. Taking out the dozen or so iffy ones I have got 52 beans.

We have not had a full frost here yet so I have not pulled down the Gigantes as long as most are still green. At the historic site, whenever I get the chance I crawl around in the remains of the Three Sisters garden to find the late drying beans (very entertaining to passersby, especially when I am in my 1820s laundress outfit). Then whoever gets stuck monitoring the gate gets to shell beans. We have got a good crop of Hidatsa shield, some with a brown solid “shield”, and a “mixed cornfield bean” from Great Lakes Staple seed. It is a very pretty mix.

In late August I planted some old Kentucky Wonder beans (NOT historically correct) in the back as ground cover where I pulled out weeds, thinking they would not have time to mature anyway. Now I have to go in and pick them when I can so the staff can eat the evidence.

 

[SusanneinHastings]

My friend Scott wrote this article, I thought everyone would enjoy to see his pictures and read his piece!

The Perfect Pods | Fairmont Post

While green beans are a familiar vegetable, I see them as a source of incredible variety and potential. My work centers on protecting rare bean varieties that might disappear and creating new, outstanding ones. I've bred unique lines like 'Blueberry Patchwork', a bean variety that is dry, light...

fairmontpost.com

OMG now I really want the Rabbit Painted Hide Skirt beans in the photo. So pretty!

 

[jbrobin09]

Managed to get a few ripe pods of Van Gogh’s Olive. I suspect the colour will change still as they aren’t 100% dry.

 

[flowerbug]

Has anyone had good production out of the Andikove? I have harvested the last and not a single pod produced more than three beans, and a lot were complete duds. Taking out the dozen or so iffy ones I have got 52 beans.

well in one season you've gotten probably two or three times the total production i ever got from several years of attempts. i gave up. such a pretty bean.

 

[heirloomgal]

Managed to get a few ripe pods of Van Gogh’s Olive. I suspect the colour will change still as they aren’t 100% dry.
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That variety is so unique, I quite like that color it has. I'm growing this year a variety (which is really more of a mix of varieties I think) called 'Malawi Mix', and there is a bean in there that looks exactly like Van Gogh's Olive. I actually think they might be the same bean.