[AT] OT - Favorite garden beans

[Grant Brians]

As one of the (I think) three commercial vegetable growers on the list, I
have some California thoughts on the snap bean question. First, I started
growing snap beans in the garden when I was about 4 years old in Los
Angeles. Second I produced my first commercial snap bean crop in about 1978.
     For Wax Bean flavor here in Central Coastal California I am partial to
Cherokee for the Kentucky Wonder type pod and one of the Heirlooms for pole
type. In the Garden pole is the way to go after the first two plantings
because then you get beans all season....
     For Green snap beans, I like three types: Kentucky Wonder, Blue Lake
type (either the original pole or if bush either Strike or Maxibel for the
Vilmorin french types) and Romano beans - here all of the varieties taste
good and have few problems. Strike is a very good bean here Coastally or in
the mid-atlantic states, but not so good in the midwest at all from what I
understand.
     For Purple varieties, they all do poorly under excess heat conditions
as they seem tosunburn somewhat, but Royalty and the original Purple pole
beans taste really good.
     One thing you may want to consider is if your climate is suited to
Scarlet Runner Beans. They are grown mostly in cool areas and are the
primary garden beans in England and parts of Germany. They have a delicious
flavor and because the pods are really big and tender prior to seed getting
too formed, they are very fast to pick in a garden. The other characteristic
that is a plus in many gardens is that they grow immense plants and climb
everywhere. Seeds are relatively expensive because of their size and the
difficulty of harvesting in commercial production of seeds, but you can save
them even more easily in a garden situation than regular beans and because
they only cross pollinate with other runners, they are very easy to keep
pure.
     So Chuck where you are and what part of the season dictate what you
should plant! In any case, have some fun and tasty veggies. By the way, the
perfect combination of flavors with snap beans is butter and California
Almonds!
                 Grant

-----Original Message-----
From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
[mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com]On Behalf Of Chuck Bealke
Sent: Wednesday, May 19, 2010 10:25 PM
To: Antique tractor email discussion group
Subject: Re: [AT] OT - Vavorite garden beans


On 5/19/2010 11:19 PM, mpnc282 at juno.com wrote:
> Hi all, OT, but I was wondering what variety of green beans you favor. As
a small garden grower, I am interested in a continuously  productive plant,
not like the big commercial growers that like all their beans to come in at
once. I know we have some vegetable farmers on the list, (HL) and would
appreciate some input. Thanks, Mike
>
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Mike,

Though not a vegetable farmer, I can tell you that for a home
garden you can spread out the planting of your seeds - some every
week - to help the harvest length.  Pay attention to pick a pole or bush
bean according to how you will grow them. Also check which varieties do best
for your own area.  I grew Kentucky Wonder in Missouri, and they did a
little better than they do in Dallas for me.  That is an old standby
pole bean
that has good flavor and yield but needs to be picked early enough to
keep them
from getting stringy.  I have not grown them personally, but have really
liked the
flavor of Blue Lake for canning.

Chuck Bealke
Dallas
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