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Post by mnjrutherford on Sept 15, 2009 18:45:54 GMT -5
Well that is even more fascinating! Can you guess about what temp the plant would consider cool? We had about 2 weeks here where it never got above 70. Perhaps that's why there are a few blossoms hanging out and about? Wonderful lesson getting learned and I have an absolutely gorgeous plant to boot!
Say Martin, is there a way I could ID it as P. coccineus? Aside from the no pods part that is.
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Post by bunkie on Sept 16, 2009 8:45:39 GMT -5
we haven't planted runners for a couple years now. will be doing so next year for sure. they make excellent dried beans with their size, imo. i've never noticed that they prefer cool weather to bloom?! will have to watch for that next year and post comments. as i recall, the Scarlet Runner and something Imperial started blooming in June and continued till frost here... ..........A bean seed exchange later would be nice, I had a rough year with pole beans, but have 6 types of bush beans from garden and some 6 types of beans I collected in Mexico from a small market. Dean yes dean, i'm interested in trading too! i'd like to hear more about the Mexican beans. |
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Post by paquebot on Sept 16, 2009 22:35:16 GMT -5
will have to watch for that next year and post comments. as i recall, the Scarlet Runner and something Imperial started blooming in June and continued till frost here... Same here except that very few of those blossoms ever set pods. That goes for Scarlet Runner and Potato which have been blooming all summer. Roughly 25 of each and they are just now showing a few pods as a result of their many hundreds of flowers. Martin |
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Post by grunt on Sept 18, 2009 23:15:25 GMT -5
Had the same sort of thing with two varieties of runner beans (Frijol Aluvia Gordo, and Spagna Blanco). The Spagna Blanco started setting in the middle of our hottest weather, and the FAGordo started just after we had a cooler spell. We will definitely get some of the Spagna, the others are a question mark at the moment. I know they did st some, but the teepee is kissing its own toes now, and the ones I know set are on the inside of the fold. It got a bit top heavy and snapped the support at the 6' mark. Both of these had blossoms from the getgo. The Frijol had red blossoms (and still does) but has now started putting out white ones at the base of the plants, something I've never seen before. Also have two varieties that haven't shown a single blossom all summer. Most of the 50+ varieties we grew have given at least a reasonable return, if starting late to do so. At least there's next year to look forward to. Gonna so some more LARGE runner beans, see how tall they'll go. Fence rails for teepee supports this time.
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Post by mnjrutherford on Sept 19, 2009 7:00:29 GMT -5
I went out to check on my mystery vines yesterday and they do indeed have a few beans showing up. Slender thread like things thus far. The largest was purple at the butt end streaking up into green for the greater portion of the fruit. I can only surmise that these fruits have come about because of the cool weather I mentioned a few posts ago.
So tell me, if I have only 2 seed planted and the seed was given to me by someone who doesn't have a clue what they truly are. How do you know if these are rare or need "special" saving? How do you know the names of the species? GRIN rejected my offer of basil seed because they are popular and don't really need saving. But, how about this bean? Should I be watching them for particular attributes? Should I have planted them later than I did?
Dan, I think these guys would definately qualify for large runner beans if by large you are refering to plant size. Give me some saving tips for these things now as I won't even try to eat these. I'll be sending you the seed to see what you think of them.
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Post by grunt on Sept 20, 2009 22:50:25 GMT -5
Jo:Grow them out and save the seed. We may be able to figure out what they are once you have dried seed, and a couple of photos of the pods at full size, and the plants as well. If no one knows what they are, it is a good indication that it is at least scarce, if not rare.
Let the pods mature on the plant, and dry down before you pick them. they should get to corn husk dry stage before you shell them. Shell them out, and let them air dry farther for a week or so. If you are afraid there may be weevils or the like on the seeds, either mix a little diatomaceous earth with the seeds, or put them in the fridge for a couple of weeks, then in the freezer for a few days, then back in the fridge for a week or so, then into room temperature air. The sojourns in the fridge are for the benefit of the seeds respiration, before and after freezing. If you have the time and patience, do the process twice, as the return to room temperature for a week or so may/should trigger the hatching process in any surviving eggs. We do this with all of the seeds we save, just to make sure we aren't putting critters into long term storage along with our seeds. For what we grow ourselves we don't bother, because we end up looking at the seeds fairly frequently, for one reason or another over the course of the first year. They do get cool storage (fridge), but that's all. The diatomaceous earth is more an insurance backup to get those that the freezing doesn't, although a lot of people use it as a matter of course, and don't try and cycle through cool and cold storage.
If you take a good look at the seeds you are saving (beans), it should be evident whether anything has bored into them and laid eggs.
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Post by mnjrutherford on Sept 25, 2009 21:04:22 GMT -5
GREAT new Pic! I love it. I went out to check the beans today. They are a good 12", possibly longer. I'll take a tape out tomorrow. They are not ready to pick as far as I can tell. The pods are becoming more purple with each passing day. I'm guessing they are a type of Asian long bean. I'm seeing a lot more of them showing up as well. I also saw a bunch of stink bugs on them. I got a bug jug after them, but where there are one or two there are a million hiding.
Where can I get diatomaceous earth?
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Post by grunt on Sept 25, 2009 21:47:06 GMT -5
Any seed or garden store and most agricultural supply stores should have it in stock.
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Post by mnjrutherford on Oct 10, 2009 7:50:14 GMT -5
Well, the beans are certainly growing now. Most of the pods are about a foot long. There is one pod in particular that is about 2' long. It runs from the top of my shoulder to the tip of my middle finger. WOW! We still aren't trying to eat any for the sake of seed. They are a favorite for the hoppers sad to say.
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Post by bunkie on Oct 20, 2009 13:57:07 GMT -5
wow jo! 2 feet long! sounds like a yardlong bean maybe. we need pics! ;D
have you tried eating any as fresh?
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Post by mnjrutherford on Oct 20, 2009 14:45:14 GMT -5
I need to get my lazy butt out and take some pics!  I hate having to process them though. But yea, about 2' long is the BIGGEST of they. Most are about 12". I have no clue what they are. A neighbor gave me 5 beans and only 2 sprouted and they have taken over a HUGE piece of fence. Now, with the onset of cooler weather they are getting more and more beans. In the heat they did nothing but grow greens. I haven't eaten any fresh YET because I want to be certain that I have seed. However, they are becoming quite prolific and I won't mind taking a few for food if I have plenty of seed to pass around and grow next year. When I do eat them I going fry them with a bit of peanut oil, ground pork, yellow onions, and hoisen sauce. I'll serve them over white rice.  Yea, in case you were wondering, I am dreaming of eating them!   |
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massachusett4hills
gopher
Yes, in the poor man's garden grows Kind thoughts, contentment, peace of mind, And joy
Posts: 34
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Post by massachusett4hills on Oct 20, 2009 17:19:48 GMT -5
I need to get my lazy butt out and take some pics! I hate having to process them though. them! I to hated editing and sizing my photos. But a free program named "IrfanView" changed that . Here`s a link to the program . download.cnet.com/IrfanView/3000-2192_4-10021962.html |
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Post by mnjrutherford on Oct 20, 2009 21:18:37 GMT -5
Excellent! Thanks Massachusetts! However, you may have ruined my butt's excuse for being lazy! I may choose to be miffed about that at a later time. OK? I like the trellising you've got for your Kentucky Wonders. Beautiful background as well. |
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Post by bunkie on Oct 21, 2009 7:45:34 GMT -5
yes, wonderful pic massachussetts! i love the 'woodsy' look and the branches for poles!
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I hate having to process them though. But yea, about 2' long is the BIGGEST of they. Most are about 12". I have no clue what they are. A neighbor gave me 5 beans and only 2 sprouted and they have taken over a HUGE piece of fence. Now, with the onset of cooler weather they are getting more and more beans. In the heat they did nothing but grow greens. I haven't eaten any fresh YET because I want to be certain that I have seed. However, they are becoming quite prolific and I won't mind taking a few for food if I have plenty of seed to pass around and grow next year. When I do eat them I going fry them with a bit of peanut oil, ground pork, yellow onions, and hoisen sauce. I'll serve them over white rice. 
Yea, in case you were wondering, I am dreaming of eating them! 
