2021 Little Easy Bean Network - Bean Lovers Come Discover Something New !

[Zeedman]

To your knowledge, does this apply to cowpeas as well? I'm just thinking of back when I used to get my cowpeas out of the bean mix I would buy at the Korean grocery store (though it was grown in China).

The appearance of those cow peas sure LOOKED like what one would expect of a cross (or more accurately of a cross breaking down). The commonest coat color was a mottled eye. But some had a solid brown eye, and some were mottled all over (or mottled with a white patch on one end). It always LOOKED like the browns and the mottled all overs were ancestors, and the (commonest) mottled eyes were the result of a cross.

Though all seem to come true to themselves when planted, so maybe there is/was another explanation)

For me, cowpeas (and yardlongs, which are a sub-species) are less prone to crosses than Phaseolus beans. In 15 years of seed saving, I have only seen one cross, between two yardlong beans. I expected to see more crossing, given the larger, more open flowers of cowpeas. It may be that in my Northern location, I lack the proper pollinators... all I ever see working the flowers are wasps, which are poor pollinators.

There are many Southern gardeners here who grow cowpeas (I know they are commonly just called "peas" there); I'd be interested to know if crossing between different cowpeas is more frequent in warmer climates.

 

[Pulsegleaner]

For me, cowpeas (and yardlongs, which are a sub-species) are less prone to crosses than Phaseolus beans. In 15 years of seed saving, I have only seen one cross, between two yardlong beans. I expected to see more crossing, given the larger, more open flowers of cowpeas. It may be that in my Northern location, I lack the proper pollinators... all I ever see working the flowers are wasps, which are poor pollinators.

There are many Southern gardeners here who grow cowpeas (I know they are commonly just called "peas" there); I'd be interested to know if crossing between different cowpeas is more frequent in warmer climates.

There are many things about cowpeas I only found out after digging in the more obscure sections. Like that they cane come with green cotyledons, just like peas. Or that they can have wax white succulent pods. Or that it IS possible to get a eye on a non white background.

 

[Myrthryn]

Aside from the two bush varieties...network beans in the ground! Used a 1x2 with condiment cups screwed in at 3" spacing to easily space without excessive bending over. Figured I could use that multiple seasons, especially when the seeds to plant are easily numbered.

 

[HmooseK]

@Zeedman
I really haven’t noticed but 1 cross over the years growing Cowpeas. I am overrun with bees too. So much so they are a nuisance at times. Of course I take pains to ensure I have at least 50’ between varieties.

 

[heirloomgal]

What company was that? I could not find it. If it is that big of a company it should have a website but maybe that bean is not on it.

It was OSC, Ontario Seed Company. From what I've heard though most of the seeds sold by any bigger Canadian company (not mom and pop shops) is from India, or other such distant countries. So, the name is a bit of a gimmick in and of itself, though probably at one point the seeds were from Ontario locales. I've never seen this bean before, and OSC almost never seems to introduce anything new into their selections, so the bean caught my attention.

 

[heirloomgal]

Thought it worth mentioning in case someone grows a tender heirloom. According to Bill Best who is an authority on beans, he says conventional beans have been bred with a “tough” gene for ease of picking And to keep those as far away from your heirlooms as possible.

just food for thought.

Whoa, that's good to know @HmooseK. I didn't know that. Will keep that in mind at planting time.

 

[heirloomgal]

Well, I'm glad I posed the question because I might never have considered that a seed company would print an outright fib like that, but I think you are all correct about that. It's a gimmick to make me believe that I can't save the seeds. They had me for a second there. I remember years ago planting sweet peas (the flowers) and asking the vendor if my saved seeds could be crossed and she guaranteed that I couldn't save seeds from them. But I regrew those seeds for years and every year the same perfectly intact varieties appeared over and over again. I always wondered about that.

 

[flowerbug]

...
To those on this forum who grow bean crosses (segregations) do you sample the results as snaps? If so, what results have you experienced?

so far, not many edible as snaps.

 

[HmooseK]

so far, not many edible as snaps.

Well now....I don’t think you’ve lived a full life lessen you’ve sat in front of the TV with a dishpan full of snaps to string. Hahahaaa. Which by the way is completely different from .....

A few years back I took a big pan full and strung them with needle & thread to make leather britches. I was extremely impressed with the results.

 

[HmooseK]

I guess everyone has their own favorite way of eating beans. I prefer my snaps to be fat with beans inside. Not like those skinny round things like you buy in cans at the store.

a big pot of snaps with some fatback or a ham hock and a pan of cornbread. The pot liquor is to die for!