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I have the sterile varieties as well and an constantly taking root cuttings to increase them. Unfortunately deer love comfrey which is why I have to grow it inside of the fence if I want to harvest any for mulch or fertilizer.

I just started using it for a mulch this year too as I try to keep it topped off to delay seeds forming as long as possible. We're having a year of record drought so I'm trying to utilize everything for mulch. The tougher woody stems are getting set aside to run through the chipper later

It's actually hairy bittercress that pops up in my garden in the spring. I love it! Has a bit of a brassica flavor to it.

Thought I'd share a photo of a cutshort pod ready to spill its beans. This demonstrates how the seed gets its square ends.

The crisply dried ones I'd either save for dry beans or seed. The plump "shelly" beans just get added in with the regular beans here. As for leather britches, I am planning to try it this year but only have my Granny's recollection of doing them. She told me that as a kid she would usually...

In the garden it's edible weeds like bittercress and lamb's quarters and I let a few grow every year because I harvest and eat them. Curly and Red Russian kale produce enough volunteer seedlings that I haven't had to plant either variety for three years and of course there's the occasional...

I didn't obtain network beans this year but an anxiously awaiting mature seed from two varieties that are network selections. We have a chance of rain this weekend and I went out last evening and harvested mature pods for drying. Opened a few pods of a dry bean landrace mix I'd harvested...

I haven't grown either of those varieties yet but I have a couple of cut short varieties including one that I'm maintaining as a family heirloom. Basically when the pod starts getting tough, we shell it. So if you're snapping them and a pod feels a little tough or rubbery, it's time to shell...

This has been the dryest summer on record in over 60 years. Our county was recently upgraded to extreme drought status a few days ago. One variety of beans I didn't water are now dried up. Forecast predicts high humidity and temperatures up to 100° this week. I did some late planting and...

Bean #47 has to be the most beautiful lima bean I've ever seen! :love

If you don't mind asking, how do you keep everything straight when harvesting. I'm only growing 22 varieties this year and in the past I've designated a pocket for this variety and a pocket for that and sometimes combine two varieties if color of the pods, seed or growing habits are easily...

I'm glad to see I've been doing things like the bean pro. ;) I've been using Styrofoam plates to let my seeds dry too except they are arranged on the storage rack I use as a light stand in the spring. Oddly it was the beans I culled and tossed into the compost that are giving me my new variant...

To everyone using spreadsheets, do you keep a physical copy of your inventory for backup? I've lost too many garden notes do to electronic failures and my own failure to periodically transfer those notes to a journal. I'm currently growing 48 pepper plants as a trial and keeping note of...

Not a dumb question at all as I've been struggling with the same thing as the varieties I've grown have increased and I also welcome any insight. My grandma and great-grandparents kept a half-pint or pint jar of each variety in the freezer. The cut-short beans I'm maintaining is one of those...

I'm in awe of all the beautiful bean photos! We're currently experiencing the worst drought our state has had in over 60 years. Did get an accumulated total of just over an inch of rain last week and the beans seemed to have grown 12-18" overnight. However the mid 90s temperatures means...

We're experiencing one of the worst droughts our state has experienced in years. I'm watering beans deeply every 3-4 days. Also temperatures have been above normal for the past two months. I did however get a bit excited when harvesting dry beans off of a variety growing in my compost pile...

My experimentation with peas is limited. However my husband would love it if I planted the whole garden in peas, so sure I'm game.

I'm also growing Fat Man this year. My great-aunt used to declare them the best bean ever. Not sure I agree with her 100% but they're pretty good.

That would be awesome!

I'm in awe of all the magnificent beans on this thread and hope to be a contributor in the near future. I'm currently growing three varieties of beans as part of a USDA trial and a few heirloom varieties. Also have two different landrace mixes from Going to Seed planted. My preference is...