Favorite green bean

[seedcorn]

For me RomaII bush. I'm limited to bush beans as I don't do pole beans. I've grown the more traditional types, while good, love flavor of Roma. Huge yields, stringless, easy to pick, hardy.

Had Contender 2 years in row, no more. Average flavor, go mature too quick. Something I should have known from reading days on variety.

Had a blue lake variety, didn't like, don't remember why.

Tenderette, like them as they yield, taste good so that will be my "normal" green bean for wife.

 

[baymule]

Seedcorn, you are a green bean connoisseur of green beans. Me-I stumbled across Thai #3 at Baker Creek. This makes the 4th year I have grown them and they make so much in such a small space, that I don't need or want to grow any other kind. I don't can them either, while they are in season, they make so much and we eat so many, that I need the winter off. If you want seed, just drop me a PM.

http://www.theeasygarden.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=33860

 

[seedcorn]

Looked them up. How long are they when you pick them? Sound like a pole type? Interesting.

 

[digitS']

Seedcorn, I'd bet I'd like your Roma's!

My favorite "used to be" Greencrop. They are a hybrid of the Roma-type and the regular. I thought they were delicious but DW claimed they weren't as "pretty" as Jade . . . Who cares?!!

I like the purple beans but she must not have. At least, she didn't push the yellow wax on me . . .

Anyway, I've grown Tenderette and they were fine for her. We've got Jade again this year - very productive. I have my Rattlesnake/Cascade Giant pole beans again. DW won't eat them . . .

Steve

 

[so lucky]

The purple bush bean that I got from Jay to grow is very productive. I'm going downstairs to find the pack and give you the name........OK, Purple Amazon Bush. It is a very beany tasting bean, and the pod tends to flatten out when starting to get too big. I'm definitely saving some seeds for myself, for next year. Beautiful purple flowers and beans, turn green when cooked.
For years, I thought Jade and Derby were the best beans. I realize now that they have been developed for commercial use, and other older varieties often have better taste. But Jade is sure a nice looking bean, as is Derby.

 

[seedcorn]

Steve can send you some if you want to try.

The green crop and purple amazon sound interesting but my wife only likes "normal" looking green beans. But when I pick the Roma's and cook them, she's there with her plate for her "share".


Next year will be Roma II for me and tenderette for her. Reason I will stick with tenderettes is I buy the seed by the pound and have a lot left as seed will keep germ for quite a few years.

 

[curly_kate]

I've always liked Jade, and I haven't noticed anything missing as far as flavor is concerned. But lucky, now you're making me think I need to try something new next year, for the sake of comparison. I don't like to think I've been missing out!

 

[digitS']

I am not saying that there is anything wrong with Jade, just that I liked the flavor of Greencrop better. I'm not sure if DW had anything against the Greencrop flavor but maybe she did. She has little respect for my Rattlesnake/Cascade Giant pole beans so, this could just be a difference in tastes. I've never tried the Italian beans on her and really suspect they wouldn't be something she would like.

I have kind of a funny story about Greencrop and how I came to try Tenderette (amongst others). I'm not sure if I remember all the sequence of things but you have to realize that there hasn't always been the "inter webs" to help us keep track of information.

I grew Greencrop in the 1970's but may have had just a small packet of the seed. The next year, I couldn't remember anymore than the word "crop" as part of the name. At least, I thought it must have been "crop." A year or 2 later I was still trying to find the right seed and tried Tendercrop that year. The next year, I gave up on the word "crop" and decided that it must have been "tender" that I'd grown. So, I grew Tenderette! Now, I knew I was faaar afield!

It must have been several more years that I realized, while looking at pictures, that the tasty bean from the 70's was "Greencrop!!" By then, or soon after, DW had come along to take the wind out of my sails . . . Greencrop is great if you tack towards an Italian bean preference.

Steve

 

[vfem]

We fell in love with the dragon tongue beans we got from baker's creek this year. They were huge, and tender. We stir-fried a bunch and they were super crunchy just the way we like. They just kept on producing. In fact we're about to do a last minute second planting while the rest are being left to go to seed.

Can't wait to do these again next year. Especially since they out performed my blue lake that I've sworn by since I started planting beans!

 

[baymule]

Looked them up. How long are they when you pick them? Sound like a pole type? Interesting.

They are 24"-36" long when picked. The trick is to pick them before they get hollow. Pick them when about the size of a pencil-only longer! Pole type? Yeah, as in the bean vines that ate Detroit. (not a bad idea-Detroit needs to start over anyway)