2022 Little Easy Bean Network - We Are Beans Without Borders

[Jack Holloway]

@heirloomgal, given your wow emoji at my last message, I should point out that, unlike a standard apricot, a Hunza type one is only about as big as a large cherry (and the pit is nearly half of that), so it's not nearly so much as you think. In terms of actual flesh consumed, one 7oz. bag of them (how they are sold) probably has the same net amount of edible flesh as a medium size box of raisins.

Aren't the pits, after shelling, suppose to be edible for a Hunza apricot?

 

[Pulsegleaner]

Aren't the pits, after shelling, suppose to be edible for a Hunza apricot?

They are, but the catch is that I am not 100% sure these ARE Hunza apricots. They LOOK like them, but it is not said explicitly on the label; that just says apricots and that they are from Pakistan. This isn't like those packages I used to get from Whole Foods that actually CAME from the Hunza valley.

 

[Zeedman]

I packed up my open air drying Jembo Polish seeds tonight into a paper bag. It seemed to do very well judging by the seed, few orangey areas here and there, but well filled out and nearly every pod was harvested and shelled. It did seem to produce less than some of the other types though; does it tend to be a less productive variety? I do find some bigger seeded beans can be a bit less productive.

I agree that some of the larger-seeded beans can be less productive - to a point. I did get nearly 4 pounds of seed from "Jembo Polish" in 2021, from a 16-foot row. Might have had close to that from "Bird Egg #3" this year, had I planted on time. To put that in context, the larger-seeded beans tend to have fewer pods per plant, so they might not be the best choice for use as snaps regardless of their flavor (and both "Jembo Polish" and "Bird Egg #3" have excellent flavor). But for shellies - which is their best use - the productivity is decent.

One large-seeded pole bean which goes by several names ("Ma Williams" / "Goose" / "Pumpkin Bean") manages to be an exception to the rule, in that it is highly productive as either snap or shelly. The snaps are unremarkable, but heavy pod set makes it OUTSTANDING when let go for shellies. I had over 4 1/2 pounds of dry seed from "Ma Williams" when I last grew it in 2016. It was supposed to be grown for renewal this year, but was one of the unfortunate cancellations.

"Ma Williams" 2009 shelly harvest

 

[Blue-Jay]

I packed up my open air drying Jembo Polish seeds tonight into a paper bag. It seemed to do very well judging by the seed, few orangey areas here and there, but well filled out and nearly every pod was harvested and shelled. It did seem to produce less than some of the other types though; does it tend to be a less productive variety? I do find some bigger seeded beans can be a bit less productive.

The larger seeded beans I think do produce less numbers of pods and seeds but do very well I think in total weight and volume. I just weighed my Jembo Polish that have been drying for many weeks. I probably had about 6 plants around two poles. Seed weight was 24.75 ounces (701.65 gm). This was 3 foot of row space. If I planted it out for 15 feet of row similar to @Zeedman's planting I could calculate 3 times this amount at about 4 and 2/3 pounds.

 

[heirloomgal]

@heirloomgal, given your wow emoji at my last message, I should point out that, unlike a standard apricot, a Hunza type one is only about as big as a large cherry (and the pit is nearly half of that), so it's not nearly so much as you think. In terms of actual flesh consumed, one 7oz. bag of them (how they are sold) probably has the same net amount of edible flesh as a medium size box of raisins.

I was thinking 6 and 12 feet tall in a year, for a fruit tree!

 

[Pulsegleaner]

well, that's what he said. No photos sent, so I can't confirm it.

 

[Jack Holloway]

well, that's what he said. No photos sent, so I can't confirm it.

Yes indeed. Pictures or it didn't happen!

 

[jbosmith]

I agree that some of the larger-seeded beans can be less productive - to a point. I did get nearly 4 pounds of seed from "Jembo Polish" in 2021, from a 16-foot row. Might have had close to that from "Bird Egg #3" this year, had I planted on time. To put that in context, the larger-seeded beans tend to have fewer pods per plant, so they might not be the best choice for use as snaps regardless of their flavor (and both "Jembo Polish" and "Bird Egg #3" have excellent flavor). But for shellies - which is their best use - the productivity is decent.

One large-seeded pole bean which goes by several names ("Ma Williams" / "Goose" / "Pumpkin Bean") manages to be an exception to the rule, in that it is highly productive as either snap or shelly. The snaps are unremarkable, but heavy pod set makes it OUTSTANDING when let go for shellies. I had over 4 1/2 pounds of dry seed from "Ma Williams" when I last grew it in 2016. It was supposed to be grown for renewal this year, but was one of the unfortunate cancellations.
View attachment 52962"Ma Williams" 2009 shelly harvest

Birds Egg #3 would be one of my favorite beans if it just started drying down a little sooner. I was JUST talking about this variety tonight in a local seed saver group when someone asked about canning shellies!

 

[Zeedman]

Birds Egg #3 would be one of my favorite beans if it just started drying down a little sooner. I was JUST talking about this variety tonight in a local seed saver group when someone asked about canning shellies!

BE#3 is definitely an "October bean"... they ripen late. If I get them in on time, most will dry down before frost, and I usually get both a good dry seed yield, and a fair amount of shellies. This year, I had to protect the vines from the first 2 frosts to get most pods over the finish line.

The "Ma Williams" in my previous post has a much shorter DTM, and would probably do well in your climate. They are very productive, and easy to shell.

 

[heirloomgal]

Some beany thoughts this evening

Lima beans. Should I ever grow them again? This year would be my 4th try. And the results were meager, just like ever other time. Jackson Wonder, Christmas and Ping. None produced enough to make the space they took up worthwhile. I've heard it all when it comes to these limas; a friend down south says her season is too short, another friend down south says they do great for her, another friend way North says her summers are too hot for them to prosper.



Cowpeas, two tries, modest results as well. I wonder how many trials does a variety require before you can really say I gave it a shot. I can't complain, but my production was down this year compared to last year. I think I need to not be so quick to stick plants & seeds in the ground in late May. It can actually work against me. Gonna need self discipline to not fall for that late May reliable hot spell next year.

BUT I did some counting tonight and saw that I added 81 new varieties of beans to my collection this year! It isn't tons of seed for each, but it's a start! Now I'm curious to see how many I have altogether!