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Post by macmex on Jul 13, 2022 5:38:48 GMT -6
Russell Crow is a very fine fellow. Just keep in mind that he lives in a very different climate than you, Hedgeapple. If you want to grow pole beans and live in Central Oklahoma I'd say you couldn't go wrong trying Tennessee Cutshort, Cherokee Trail of Tears or Rattlesnake. I have seed of Cooper's Running Snap, from Louisiana, which is probably the same as Rattlesnake. These beans are very tolerant of Oklahoma summer conditions. Varieties to be careful with, because of heat and humidity issues would likely be Kentucky Wonder, Barksdale Wax Pole, Cherokee Striped Cornhill and some other Appalachian heirlooms. When trying a new Appalachian heirloom I never know how it's going to handle our heat until I've tried. Old Timey Long Cut Greasy is an Appalachian, string bean, greasy variety which seems to handle our conditions just fine.
Rattlesnake and Cherokee Trail of Tears are not string beans, but tender podded. They toughen up faster than the old string beans but then, they are also much more suitable for dry beans than most of the old string varieties (They all taste fine, but some varieties are not practical producers of dry beans.). My wife, who is not a bean nerd, tells me they are "just fine" as green beans.
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Post by chrysanthemum on Jul 13, 2022 6:32:42 GMT -6
Macmex and HMooseK know their beans! I have very limited experience but can say that my most successful bean growing has been with the Rattlesnake variety. I’ve grown it a couple of time, and last summer, in a slightly cooler and wetter than usual Texas summer, it flourished for months. My husband and I used to joke that we were having Virginia weather last year. We planted a different variety this year, and it simply couldn’t handle our heat and drought, so we’re haven’t got any beans right now. We froze our excess Rattlesnakes. I’ve never canned them. I have to agree with Macmex’s wife that they are “just fine” as green beans. I found them to be a pretty plant in the garden as well with a nice vigorous pole habit. They are not a greasy bean, and at least one of my children didn’t like that about them, though that was only when eating them raw. Southern Exposure Seed Exchange divides their bean offerings by growth habit and usage. They have a nice listing for pole snap beans and are located not too far from you. southernexposure.com/categories/pole-snap-beans/
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Post by macmex on Jul 13, 2022 7:09:32 GMT -6
Southern Exposure has the advantage of being focused on a climate like ours.
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Post by hedgeapple on Jul 13, 2022 7:37:23 GMT -6
Southern Exposure has the advantage of being focused on a climate like ours. I don't remember how it came about, but SESE is who I bought all my original seeds from when I started my first garden. Never had an issue with any of their seeds. I've got descendants of that same seed going today.
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Post by rdback on Jul 13, 2022 9:31:27 GMT -6
Yup, SESE is legit. I've met Ira Wallace several times; even been to the farm once or twice. She's forgotten more about gardening than I could ever hope to learn. You can't go wrong following any of the advice offered on their website.
So, back to beans lol. It's been rumored that I've grown a bean or two in Virginia. I think George was spot on when he said you need to figure out what you want out of your beans. Do you just want to pick-n-eat? can? shell? dry? leather britches? etc.
Then you need to decide on growth habit. Generally, that's either bush or pole. There are a few in between . With pole, you need to provide some type of support. I like arched cattle panels.
Then you need to decide what SPECIES of bean you want to grow. Most common are:
Typical "green" beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) Lima beans (Phaseolus lunatus) Runners (Phaseolus coccineus) Tepary (Phaseolus acutifolius) Cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata)
After all those things are figured out, THEN we can work on some potential varieties lol.
By the way, you still got time to plant and harvest some bush beans. Poles might be a little late for this year.
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Post by hedgeapple on Jul 13, 2022 10:20:02 GMT -6
Oh my goodness... you are all so wonderful. Thank you for your knowledge and help.
Since I have time, and the weather has been so good, I'm going to clear some space for bush beans for harvesting this year.
What do you recommend in a green (typical) snap bush bean for this year? Not concerned about pod texture in terms of greasy or not - they'll be eaten fresh, frozen and canned. Do want them predominantly green in color, but speckling of one sort or another is just fine.
Weather here is mild compared to Oklahoma. Don't expect anything above mid-90s. Soil is clay with medium ph.
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Post by macmex on Jul 13, 2022 10:38:14 GMT -6
My first choice in bush beans is Woods Mountain Crazy Bean. It's the closest thing to an actual regional heirloom bean, that I've found, living in Cherokee County Oklahoma. Woods Mountain Crazy bean never stops producing unless killed by drought or cold. It also produces prodigious amounts of beans. Be sure to plant about a foot apart. Though clearly a bush, it is a STOCKY bush bean. Woods Mountain Crazy Bean is a true tender podded string bean.
Other good bush beans, for snaps, are Contender, Top Crop and Black Valentine. My brother in NJ has grown Black Valentine for years. They love the pods for snaps and the dry seed makes a good dry bean.
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Post by hmoosek on Jul 13, 2022 11:26:45 GMT -6
Oh I’m glad @rdback chimed in. I’ve been wanting to talk to you Buddy. Can you tell me about Grandma Roses bean that you sent to me? I was going through my beans and came across it. Very nice looking bean.
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Post by hmoosek on Jul 13, 2022 12:04:00 GMT -6
Thanks Chrysanthemum, but George knows way more about beans than I do, but I love researching and talking about beans. Also love collecting them. George made a good point about our climate. I’ve had so many failures it ain’t funny trying to grow varieties not suited for my climate. Both with beans and tomatoes. I’m hard headed and gung ho though so I keep right on trying.
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Post by hmoosek on Jul 13, 2022 12:58:54 GMT -6
I guess it also depends on your opinion of what a good green bean is. For me, I don’t typically like the round stringless type. I tend to favor the ones where the beans stay tender after the bean has swelled up in the pod.
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Post by woodeye on Jul 13, 2022 15:29:52 GMT -6
Okay, I put Woods Mountain Crazy Bean on the list of seeds I'm ordering from Sandhill.
Sounds like the perfect bean for me, bush beans protected from bunnies do well here...
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Post by hedgeapple on Jul 13, 2022 17:06:01 GMT -6
One neat thing about Fredericksburg is that there is an actual SESE seed rack right down at the local food co-op: I have been known to linger by it, lol.
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Post by hmoosek on Jul 13, 2022 17:28:55 GMT -6
Okay, I put Woods Mountain Crazy Bean on the list of seeds I'm ordering from Sandhill.
Sounds like the perfect bean for me, bush beans protected from bunnies do well here... I remember the lady that shared that bean with us. I put a t away for a few years and Annette was the one that was able to tell me the name of the bean. I had Sherry’s name on the baggy and Annette identified it for me. I’m not the best record keeper. LAUGHING!
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Post by rdback on Jul 13, 2022 17:31:02 GMT -6
Oh I’m glad @rdback chimed in. I’ve been wanting to talk to you Buddy. Can you tell me about Grandma Roses bean that you sent to me? I was going through my beans and came across it. Very nice looking bean.
Sure. I obtained Grandma Roses from Rodger Winn, who lives in Little Mountain, SC. Here's what I wrote down:
"From seed swap – 2017 Heritage Harvest Festival, Monticello, VA. Notes: an Italian heirloom pole bean with vines reaching six to eight feet in height. It is a multi-purpose (horticultural-type) variety that can be harvested young as a green bean, at the green shelling stage, and mature as a dry bean. The pods are green and tasty when young turning tan with maroon streaks as they mature. The seeds are large, flattened-oblong shaped and tan with maroon streaks."
Notes say I grew it out in 2019. That's all I got lol. Hope that helps a little.
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Post by hmoosek on Jul 13, 2022 17:44:50 GMT -6
It sure does!
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