|
|
Post by rdback on Jul 17, 2020 18:35:03 GMT -6
Oaxacan Cream (p. Vulgaris) in Virginia – 2020
There's not a lot of info out there regarding this bean, attesting to it's increasing rarity. Fortunately, it has been well documented right here on Green Country Seed Savers. It can be reviewed here.
After reading about the trials performed in the past, I discussed this bean with Glen. He was kind enough to send some Oaxacan Cream pole bean seeds my way this Spring. We thought we'd see how it does at 39 degrees N here in the Shenandoah Valley. We have concerns about the ability to produce and save seed, but decided to give it a try anyway.
Seeds were planted on 6/03. Inoculant was not used, as beans have been grown in this soil in prior years. Germination was excellent – 11 out of 12 seeds, or 92%. (Note: I'm actually growing two trellises of Oaxacan Cream for seed saving purposes, but for this log I will only be documenting this one trellis as a representative sample.) Here's what the seeds looked like.
7/06 – Seeds were planted 6 inches apart. This is 30 days after planting.
7/10 - Plants are reluctant climbers, but with a little help training, they get the idea.
7/16 – Hard to describe, but these vines seem to be “clingy”. Kinda like if they wrap around your shirtsleeve, you have to “peel” them back off. Hope that makes sense.
Lead runners are up to about 4.5 feet.
|
|
|
|
Post by rdback on Jul 28, 2020 21:24:43 GMT -6
7/28 - Once vines are started on the trellis, they climb readily. Vines have now reached the top of the trellis arch - 8 feet or so. No signs of flowering yet.
|
|
|
|
Post by macmex on Jul 29, 2020 3:53:14 GMT -6
This is fantastic! I will pray for a late frost.
Lost the last of my seed this year, as I was preparing to send it to Colleen, a seed saving friend in Hawaii. This is too good a bean to lose.
|
|
|
|
Post by rdback on Aug 7, 2020 20:28:44 GMT -6
8/07 - Oaxcan Cream continues to grow, but is being attacked by the Mexican Bean Beetle. Damage is fairly significant. I need to spray, but it has rained every day for over a week. Maybe a break in a few days. Still no sign of flowers.
Plants have reached the top of the trellis and begun the vine dance.
|
|
|
|
Post by rdback on Aug 18, 2020 9:06:51 GMT -6
8/16 - Plants continue to grow, but still not seeing any flowers. Leaf damage by the Mexican Bean Beetle is significant. Sprayed neem oil a few days ago. It certainly slowed their attack, but they are still present. Will spray again soon, weather permitting.
Please excuse the large leaves in the foreground. That darn AfricanX Okra is becoming a photo hog!
|
|
|
|
Post by rdback on Sept 7, 2020 19:29:22 GMT -6
8/28 - Oaxacan continues to vine, but STILL no flower spikes. This variety continues to be brutally attacked by the Mexican Bean Beetle, despite multiple sprayings of neem oil. It has become almost a trap crop for the rest of the garden. Also, the temps have cooled over the last few weeks, below 70F at night, but still no flowering. I am starting to agree with others that Oaxacan Cream is a day-length sensitive variety. I'm also beginning to doubt there is enough time to mature seed here in Virginia for this variety, even if it starts setting pods.
Continues to grow well, just no flowers/pods. Also notice the overall damage from the Mexican Bean Beetle.
Mexican Bean Beetle damage.
|
|
|
|
Post by macmex on Sept 8, 2020 4:52:58 GMT -6
When I last grew this bean (2008) I had my first small pods on September 20. Hopefully you have similar results. With Tarahumara Pink Green Bean, another daylength sensitive bean I've grown, I invariably find my first flower buds September 1. They're not noticeable, but they're there.
|
|
|
|
Post by rdback on Sept 9, 2020 15:42:12 GMT -6
I sure hope you're right George.
I grew Tarahumara Pink last year (I think, lol) and was able to produce seed.
Fingers crossed.
|
|
|
|
Post by rdback on Sept 24, 2020 18:05:48 GMT -6
9/24 - Well, the news is not good re: Oaxacan Cream. STILL no sign of flowers, let alone pods. It continues to be ravaged by MBB, despite spraying. Temps have cooled significantly - 70's / 50's. We even had three nights of 38, 38, 36. A hard frost is in the forecast about 10 days from now (hope they're wrong). As I said, not good news for Oaxacan Cream.
If something changes I'll update this thread, but as of now, I consider this trial a fail. Pity.
|
|
|
|
Post by rdback on Sept 28, 2020 19:05:41 GMT -6
9/28 Well here it is, just four days later, and Oaxacan Cream has decided to BLOOM lol. Chances of producing anything is remote, but you never know!
|
|
|
|
Post by macmex on Sept 29, 2020 4:18:19 GMT -6
That's almost precisely like Tarahumara Pink Green Bean does. I always find the first flowers right at the beginning of October. Then, sometimes I get a bumper crop and other times I barely get any seed, all depending on the first frost. Sure hope it makes for you. I'll put in my name for some seed.
|
|
|
|
Post by glen on Sept 30, 2020 4:51:24 GMT -6
Rick, thanx so much for this trial. I really appreciate it.
George, I have a few hundred seeds in the freezer. You are welcome to some if you want. Its one of those peanut butter jars, smaller size, full of seed. There might be much more than a few hundred.
I just checked in the freezer. There are 2 small jars full of seed. I have a ton of that seed.
Its been in the freezer for a long time but Rick says its good.
Glen
|
|
|
|
Post by macmex on Sept 30, 2020 5:58:52 GMT -6
Stored in the freezer they should be good for decades. I've been hearing reports from Glenn Drowns, of Sandhill Preservation Center. He inherited a huge frozen seed bank from a friend who passed away a couple years ago. His project has been to grow out, catalog and offer the many unique varieties which Tom Knoche had acquired during his life time. Everything, even dating back to the 70s has been growing well for him.
I will definitely take some seed. I think I had about a dozen left and lost them this spring. Also, I'll message you with Colleen Sakei's address. Colleen requested the seed from me this spring. She lives in Hawaii, where this bean has been proven to thrive. My friend Merry Youle, who passed away last year, grew this bean for years there.
|
|
|
|
Post by glen on Oct 2, 2020 10:51:44 GMT -6
Ok, George, I will definitely send you seed. Send me the address of your friend. I will send seed.
I hope you are asking your friend to pass seeds forward in her area if she has good results with it.
We need to take a look again at where this variety came from and try and to find someone who lives in the same type of environment to trial this bean.
If your friend from Hawaii lives in the low lands near the coast it might not do well.
Thanx,
Glen
|
|
|
|
Post by rdback on Oct 7, 2020 16:36:09 GMT -6
10/07 - Temps have dropped quite a bit - 40's at night, 60's during the day. Oaxacan Cream continues to flower, but is not setting any pods. I think we'll probably get a frost in the next 2-3 weeks, so seed saving for this variety is a no-go. Again, if things change drastically I'll update, but I don't see that happening.
|
|
