2020 Little Easy Bean Network - An Exciting Adventure In Heirloom Beans !

[Decoy1]

How is the "Ernie's Big Eye" doing? I will be fascinated to see how your seed looks when you harvest them. I also have a set of this bean growing here too.

Ernie's Big Eye is producing beans now and growing quite well. It is suffering a bit - but less - from the yellowing of the leaf which Mugungi has.
I'm hoping for some good seed to send you.

 

[Pulsegleaner]

i think your climate is probably pretty similar to ours here. if i can get FPJ to cross with Purple Dove (or an other related bean) it would be really interesting. i'm actually hoping i can get PD to cross with every bean i grow here as a bush bean as so many do not grow as well (plus we really like purple flowers ).

I might indeed. I remember someone (@seakangaroo, I think) managed a cross with FPJ (I think) that resulted in a mottled green and purple seeded bean that was quite attractive) I think I tired to suggest the name "Ugandan Discussion".

Technically my Bantu also have some FPJ in there, or should I say FPA (Amethyst). When it was first released by Ricter's, FPJ had some off type seeds in other colors, and the purple one made it into the Bantu planting, so it could still be in there. The problem being since the Bantu also came back purple, and since seed color is pretty much the ONLY thing different about the two of them (excluding that odd mottled type someone showed here, which I think is a cross) I have no way of telling which is which.

My packet also had a steel blue bean, but I unfortunately lost that before planting.

 

[flowerbug]

I might indeed. I remember someone (@seakangaroo, I think) managed a cross with FPJ (I think) that resulted in a mottled green and purple seeded bean that was quite attractive) I think I tired to suggest the name "Ugandan Discussion".

Technically my Bantu also have some FPJ in there, or should I say FPA (Amethyst). When it was first released by Ricter's, FPJ had some off type seeds in other colors, and the purple one made it into the Bantu planting, so it could still be in there. The problem being since the Bantu also came back purple, and since seed color is pretty much the ONLY thing different about the two of them (excluding that odd mottled type someone showed here, which I think is a cross) I have no way of telling which is which.

My packet also had a steel blue bean, but I unfortunately lost that before planting.

i recall reading about that before. the problem with trying to get a cross with PD is that PD finishes early (one or many reasons why i like it).

 

[flowerbug]

Interesting information on Fort Portal Jade. Thanks. I'll see how this year's crop go. Not in flower yet.

With Mugungi - and I don't think we know where that comes from - I'm encouraged that some newish growth looks healthier. The older leaves are quite browned though. Any thoughts as to what might cause this yellowing and browning? I have a few varieties showing similar symptoms this year but others inbetween are perfectly green and healthy.

These are the utrongestcplants and at least they seem to be growing away from poor sickly growthView attachment 36222

some diseases can be hard to identify without being there to see them in person. do any of these guides help you?

Mount Vernon NWREC | Washington State University

[slide slide_type="custom" img_src="http://mtvernon.wsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/spiderMiteMouthParts3.jpg" img_id="1864" link="https://nottingham.mtvernon.wsu.edu" item_title="Entomology" excerpt="The Entomology Program strengthens production and export potential of conventional and...

mtvernon.wsu.edu

Bean Diseases Identification

gardenplanner.almanac.com

 

[Zeedman]

The Emerite pole beans are starting, we will begin picking them tomorrow. This variety is particularly striking when in bloom, the flowers are attractive & borne in profusion over a long period.

The German Butterbean pole limas are blooming heavily too, but their flowers are far less conspicuous... except to the bees, which are very active there.

 

[flowerbug]

The Emerite pole beans are starting, we will begin picking them tomorrow. This variety is particularly striking when in bloom, the flowers are attractive & borne in profusion over a long period.
View attachment 36244
The German Butterbean pole limas are blooming heavily too, but their flowers are far less conspicuous... except to the bees, which are very active there.

we're always a sucker for purple flowers here.

 

[Decoy1]

Flowerbug, thank you for the disease identifiers. I’m wondering about a touch of mosaic virus. I’ll see how they go.
The other possibility is something in the manure/compost I used on the beds.

 

[flowerbug]

@Decoy1 i have found a few plants this season that looked so wrong that i pulled them out when i noticed them. whatever it was i sure didn't want it spreading or if it was a genetic issue i didn't want any bees crossing those plants with others.

with the number of seeds i get from other sources i have to keep an eye on every new variety planted to make sure they're not bringing in new diseases.

 

[flowerbug]

bean flowering season is here. i was hoping to get some beans picked so we can eat them but i don't think that's going to work out today, so it will have to be Tuesday when i try to get some of that done.

JBs are not too bad, but i have to get out each morning to pick them off the beans. some gardens are not heavily infested so a few minutes walking up and down the rows and picking a few beetles off and i'm done. a few other gardens i have to look over some plants that are being more chewed on and it takes a bit longer, but i've seen worse too so i'll keep at it. for several thousand bean plants a dozen JBs isn't that bad at all.

 

[Blue-Jay]

@flowerbug,

I think you are probably talking about Japanese beetles. Having an amazing year with the beetles here this year. It's the lightest population of them since I first noticed them here in 2011. They are hardly noticeable here at all. Sure wish it would be that way every growing season.