2022 Little Easy Bean Network - We Are Beans Without Borders

[Jack Holloway]

I grew 3 last year for a seed saving endeavor. I had a couple buckets of them. I’ll be transferring these into 3 maybe 4 buckets. I Had good luck last year with my bucket beans, so it’s mostly an experiment. Last year was for seeds, this year for fatback and leather britches.

Quick question, I hope, how many bush bean plants did you grow in a 5 gallon bucket, and how many seeds to you get per bucket, rough guess is fine?

 

[HmooseK]

Quick question, I hope, how many bush bean plants did you grow in a 5 gallon bucket, and how many seeds to you get per bucket, rough guess is fine?

I didn’t grow bush. They were Tennessee Cutshort Pole. I don’t know how many. I shared them with some friends and I put about 50 in the freezer. I’m only guessing, but a little over 100. I did a summer/fall grow out planting on July 18. Was able to harvest way before having to worry about frost. I’ll be doing the same with a couple other varieties this year.

 

[Jack Holloway]

I didn’t grow bush. They were Tennessee Cutshort Pole. I don’t know how many. I shared them with some friends and I put about 50 in the freezer. I’m only guessing, but a little over 100. I did a summer/fall grow out planting on July 18. Was able to harvest way before having to worry about frost. I’ll be doing the same with a couple other varieties this year.

Thank you. How many plants per bucket? Sounds like you had good production for seed saving and eating.

 

[HmooseK]

Well, got a few transplanted.

 

[HmooseK]

Last year? I did three. I’m pretty sure. Might have been 2 though. My ol computer bank doesn’t keep as accurate account as it used to. Haha!

 

[meadow]

without any other indication of how big a plant might get i'd space things by seed size giving more space to larger seeded varieties. if the plant is semi-runner or pole i'd give it even more space.

This was a great tip, @flowerbug ! I'm putting it to use with my green beans and can see that it makes a lot of sense.

 

[meadow]

I've been trying to germinate a green bean that was sent [purchased in December 2021] as having a 55% germination rate when it was tested... in 2015.

I started with a batch of 25 seeds and could only get one to sprout until using @aftermidnight's tip in the 2016 Network Bean Thread . Read a few posts down to get @Bluejay77's input too.

So far it is working really well! Many of the beans refused to absorb liquid, but this trick took care of that. They have all plumped up and four more have sprouted overnight. I'm hopeful there will be more to come.

 

[Artorius]

I rub the edge of the seeds with a nail file. They absorb water and swell immediately.

 

[meadow]

I rub the edge of the seeds with a nail file. They absorb water and swell immediately.

Thank you! I will give that a try on the next batch.

 

[Triffid]

What is the optimal spacing for Piękny Jaś? I'm assuming the vines ramble a lot.