Hamby Bean

[macmex]

Over the years I've had a special interest in Appalachian beans, especially the brown seeded kinds. I suppose it's because my parents' favorite bean was the Kentucky Wonder, and, shortly after marrying Jerreth, her great aunt, Clara and her husband Doy Henny gave us a little sack of seed for Tennessee Cutshort. Both of these beans have what I call "Kentucky Wonder brown" seed. I use the term since Kentucky Wonder is one of the best known beans in the garden world. That'll be another experiment and another thread, someday. I have heard that KY Wonder doesn't produce in our Oklahoma summer heat, yet recently I met someone who grows it successfully down in Edmond. So... 

Our own mountianj, Jesse, from Tennessee, sent me and Ron some bean seed which he has been maintaining. He posted about the October bean. I'm posting about the Hamby Bean. It has "Kentucky Wonder Brown Seed," and I'm growing it this year. I have a docket of beans to grow, and some aren't going to get in the ground this year, but this one did, today. Guess I can't resist! Here's a picture of some of the seed.


Jesse says that these and Kentucky Wonder used to be grown all over Tennessee, especially by older folk. He got his seed from his aunt, and knows of a store that still sells the seed. Interestingly, there were and still are some general stores that sell seed which is locally produced and typical of the area. I wish a lot more did this!

This is a photo, which Jesse took of the pods of this bean.


Here's a link to a blog I found about this bean. It's so very important to conserve information on local crops like this!

Labyrinth Farm: Hamby Pole Beans!

So, I'll keep you all posted!

[macmex]

Well, Hamby Pole Beans are starting to grow in my small isolation garden, at work. I planted these on May 5. This is an 8X4' bed.



I've had to replant a few, just like I always do. In the past it's been birds or squirrels eating my seedlings. This year I'm pretty sure it's slugs. Here's a picture of one pole planted with Hamby.

[heavyhitterokra]

Due to unusually heavy, and very consistent rainfall this year, we've had slugs that rival any I ever saw while living in Seattle.  Like slimy hotdog size; slithering up our North facing front door, or oozing across the brim of my poor ole dog's watering dish, or even gliding along, up the side of the smoker that's set up under a big hickory tree out back.  All the dense greenery out there makes my favorite charcoal spot a haven for those slimy beasts.

Who'da thought slugs could get so bad, right here in Oklahoma?  Slugs were such a thing in the prolifically-green, fern groves of the rain forests near Seattle, that I remember seeing ceramic coffee mugs for sale in the ritzy downtown boutiques, with a giant slug molded into the glaze; looking as though it were about to slither up, out of the coffee inside. They looked so nasty and so realistic, that you'd have to take a second look to realize they were just a part of the cup.  I believe those same coffee cups would sell here right now, in Northeastern Oklahoma, for the very same reason.

On the flip side of that, I've also observed an unusually healthy earthworm population this season.  Now, those are some slimy, wriggly, creatures I don't mind seeing in my garden.

[heavyhitterokra]

Reading George's post makes me want to go plant some Hamby pole beans along the inside chain link fence of my old hog pen. (That might be the only spot on my place that's safe from the deer?)

Nowhere here is really 100% safe from the bottomless pit of a deer's stomach. It's not uncommon to see them standing in my front yard, grazing right beside the mailbox. They pay very little attention to our dogs. In fact, they pay very little attention to anything. Sometimes, they'll just step out of the way when we're driving home from Church, not even walking away until I open the car door to shoo them out into the woods.

[macmex]

Here's a photo of the Hamby beans I planted at work. They're climbing well now. I have a couple of poles without anything growing on them because of squirrels. The squirrels have been sneaking in there and nipping off the seedlings when they're barely past the cotyledon stage. If I replant a couple of times we'll get a solid stand. Germination has been excellent.

[mountianj]

lookin good george here some pic of mine growings 

[macmex]

Looking good!

[macmex]

t's been a couple of weeks since I've posted on Hamby bean progress. The vines are looking very good. They've been flowering since around June 12, but up till now there are very few pods. We've had very hot weather, which makes me think that Hamby is kind of along the lines of Kentucky Wonder, and likes moderate temperatures at night, for the sake of pollination. Still, I am finding some pods. If my theory is correct, we'll get more pods in a little over a month, when temps become more moderate.

I'm hesitant to taste even one bean, as I want to have seed if something happens and I don't get a late crop of these beans. Still, the pods look really good.


  

[rdback]

That's a good looking bean George! I might have to give it a grow myself.

[macmex]

Hamby apparently doesn't like our mid summer heat, at least not for setting pods. The vines look great, but I've only seen a handful of pods, so far. Here's the first with mature seed. I picked it today. It'll take a couple days to finish drying.




Here's a photo of the vines today. If they keep their good condition, I expect a good crop in about a month.

[macmex]

We've had a good many weeks of hot weather now. Hamby has withstood the heat quite well, albeit without setting pods. Now evenings are cooling. Hamby continues to flower. I expect we'll see an abundance of pods now. For those reading this thread but who don't live in Oklahoma, remember that we have extremes in weather here. Our cold can be really cold and our hot is really hot. Oklahoma broke the US continental record for the hottest 40 straight days, back in 2011. The previous record was also held by... Oklahoma.

This bean, grown in a bit more temperate climate, might well produce through the entire summer and fall. Only trying it will tell for a given locale.

 

[heavyhitterokra]

Today's high was only 82 degrees. Tonight's low is forecast to be around 59 degrees. That ought to get those Hamby beans in the mood to start setting pods better. (If they do it before the hot weather returns in the next week or so). I don't think I've ever seen better-looking foliage on the plants though ... Along with our hot weather, we've also had an unusually wet summer.
These are just some photos of my 3 Sister's planting.  This Hamby is binding the tassel of my flint corn.  (That's alright though, I hand pollinated this one from the tassel of another plant nearby.)

You can barely see it in this tiny photo, but there is a Hamby pole bean starting to blossom right beside this red corn silk.  (I think this program will allow the viewer to zoom in on the photos to enlarge them).  It might be worth a try?

Again, you can barely see it in the photo, but there is a pole bean reaching up past this sunflower blossom.  It will probably latch onto the nearest cornstalk and just keep going.  That's just okra in the background.  A few of the pole beans have reached across the row to shake hands with those too. 

Thanks, Jesse, for the seeds that you sent us this year.  We've enjoyed them a lot!

[macmex]

Well, Hamby hasn't produced very well, so far. I suspect it doesn't like our Oklahoma heat. However, I checked the plants this morning and they are covered in flowers. There are some pods on there too. I picked a pod, strung it and ate it raw. It was VERY good: nice and meaty. 



I'd like to take this moment to mention something  which this grow out brings to mind. A single grow out is not enough to truly evaluate a variety. Whatever I say about why this bean hasn't produced is speculation. To really know will require multiple grow outs and probably input from other growers in other locales. This very bean might do great here, next summer, and that, with no apparent change in circumstances. Or, it might repeat this performance over and over again. Only trial and time will tell.


Still hopeful about getting a fall crop.

[rdback]

Hopefully Hamby will hit full stride before frost George.

I still like the looks of this bean. I might give it a try next season.

[macmex]

It might do wonderfully for you, in your climate, Rick. There's only one way to know.

Nights and mornings are getting cool here, now. Today it was quite foggy in the morning. I walked out to see Hamby and noticed that it's setting a good many pods now. It's not a torrent, but it's something. Pods are curved, and flattened. They have strings. I like them, though I dare not pick a mess to cook till I have more seed.