Losing my patience with my Pole Beans....

[lesa]

I just picked a half bushel off my pole beans-and we've already eaten them twice. I can't believe I am ahead of anyone here in zone 4. I will say, the plants themselves are shorter than previous years. I plant them on an 8 foot tall fence and I have needed a ladder in previous years- now the beans are mostly at eye level. Anyone had any luck freezing these- I tried last year and they were awful!

 

[Rhodie Ranch]

I've got no pole beans, a dozen yellow wax beans, no cranberry beans, and about 3 dozen chinese long beans. They plants are huge, healthy.....What the heck is going on???

 

[vfem]

I've got no pole beans, a dozen yellow wax beans, no cranberry beans, and about 3 dozen chinese long beans. They plants are huge, healthy.....What the heck is going on???

SEE?!?!

I can blame it on the heat... but I don't know... I was freezing beans by now, and my local farm stand starting getting theirs in 2 weeks ago.

 

[bid]

I am blaming it on the heat. Last year was a great year for pole beans for me...this year, not so much. Every time they get going the 100+ degree days hit and stay for a week or so. Every year is different as to what does well. Fools me every time into thinking this year will be similar to last year weather-wise.

 

[elf]

I just picked a half bushel off my pole beans-and we've already eaten them twice. I can't believe I am ahead of anyone here in zone 4. I will say, the plants themselves are shorter than previous years. I plant them on an 8 foot tall fence and I have needed a ladder in previous years- now the beans are mostly at eye level. Anyone had any luck freezing these- I tried last year and they were awful!

I always can green and pole beans, as the few times I've tried blanching and freezing them, they were like rubber or had a tough skin.

 

[ninnymary]

It does sound like the heat. We have been picking green beans almost every day for weeks now. I have already planted a second crop. But here the mornings are cool and the days are 68*-72*.

Mary

 

[lesa]

elf, I don't have a pressure canner- so I don't dare... But I did dilly beans, which were fun and delicious!

 

[elf]

Yes, got to have a pressure canner. Don't let them scare you. Follow directions and you can't go wrong. It's actually not very tedious. There's no prelim. cooking, so you're not standing over a steaming vat, stirring all day. Just got to have time to stay in the kitchen to keep pressure adjusted.

 

[Whitewater]

I am so glad it's not just my beans . . . .


Whitewater (said in the best spirit possible!)

 

[desertwillow]

I've planted pole beans twice and something has eaten them when they get about six inches tall. I suspect rabbits because we have a lot of them here in the high desert.