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Post by atash on Jun 21, 2010 2:01:07 GMT -5
OK, this one is native to the eastern USA, and apparently widespread. It looks like the common Bean, P. vulgaris, is described as having "pink" flowers, and as having a bean like a tiny navy bean, 1/3 the size of a navy bean.
They reputedly ripen late.
They are edible, but apparently not cultivated.
Can anyone sell me some?
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Post by atash on Jun 22, 2010 18:00:29 GMT -5
OK, I think maybe we found a source...
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Post by grunt on Jun 23, 2010 0:36:55 GMT -5
atash: PCGRIN has five accessions
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Post by atash on Jun 23, 2010 19:53:38 GMT -5
Thanks, Grunt.
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Post by MikeH on Jul 8, 2010 16:56:15 GMT -5
OK, I think maybe we found a source... You're doing better than I am. Would you mind sharing your source? Thanks. Mike
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Post by atash on Aug 27, 2010 1:19:57 GMT -5
Sorry, Mike, didn't notice your post until now. The source I found was the same one that Grunt suggested. Go here: www.ars-grin.gov/npgs/acc/acc_queries.htmlI'm trying to get a trip organized with tater-mater to visit the facility where these are kept. They have an extensive collection of Leguminoseae/Fabiaceae.
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Post by MikeH on Jan 12, 2012 18:29:07 GMT -5
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Post by ottawagardener on Jan 12, 2012 19:47:28 GMT -5
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Post by atash on Jan 12, 2012 23:43:20 GMT -5
Good catch, Mike. Ottawagardener, I'll see about ordering a couple and if they survive and thrive (can't imagine they'd be too hard to grow), and I get beans, I'll send you some. Bear in mind that these are wild plants. The pods shatter. Makes it hard to harvest them. Other than that, they're apparently perfectly edible, and surprisingly hardy for the genus. I dunno if they will cross to P. coccineus which would be my choice. P. coccineus--Scarlet Runners--are already perennial--just not in your winters. Nip and tuck in mine, though the longer they survive, the higher the probability of them surviving another year as their root system gets built up. A hardier version would be exceedingly valuable. A veritable food factory: you could grow it up a porch, arbor, fence, etc, and harvest the beans in season. Would probably work best back-crossed a bunch of times as the only thing useful the Thicket Bean would contribute to a hybrid would be much wider temperature tolerances. I know that they don't cross to Limas, which does not surprise me at all; it's a South American bean, quite far geographically. At least Scarlet Runners are the next perennial species to the south. According to friends in the east, Thicket Beans used to be common. Before Roundup.
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Post by ottawagardener on Jan 13, 2012 8:59:06 GMT -5
I'm overwintering runner beans for fun in the house this year. I was going to just try and store the tubers as I've read some very old references referring to some old references of doing it but then I figured the kids might like a plant in their room so now I have some 3-4 foot vines in their windows.
The idea of wild, hardy, useful plants sells me. I'm willing to work with the shattering. Always more time right? No?
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Post by 12540dumont on Jan 13, 2012 12:38:52 GMT -5
The shattering gene is very ancient. When beans were more "primitive" it was how they spread their seed. I think it's a wonderful mechanism. One of the Italian beans had it, and it not only spewed it's seed, it started to regrow in the fall. I think it's a matter of using it properly.
Atash, are you going to go see Molly?
I too am working on runner beans. I have high hopes for these becoming perennial on the farm. To that end, I'm basketing them. It appears that what kills them here is the evil pocket gopher, who munches on them in the winter. Their only other enemy is man with rototiller!!! aghh! I plant to basket this year's crop on the outside of the long bean house. When I'm through growing in the house, I turn the chickens in there. They clean up the lettuce and other crops, but can't eat the beans, as they are on the outside.
I did this last year with bolitas (not a runner) and they did fabulously. What a prolific bean.
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Post by ottawagardener on Jan 13, 2012 14:52:14 GMT -5
I presume they have hard seed pods? Anyone know how they would be for fresh eating? I suppose you could also harvest them as shelly beans before they did their popping act. I had some variety of seed that did occasionally when I left it to dry too long on the vine but I can't remember which it was and though I've been growing out the same seeds FOR AGES, just adding new varieties, I can't remember seeing that trait recently.
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Post by atash on Jan 13, 2012 15:30:40 GMT -5
Ottowagardener, no fresh eating. Dry beans only. And the beans are quite small, though that could be a benefit too.
Teparies don't have succulent pods either. I did not see what the pods on the hybrid common-bean/teparies looked like, but I would guess they could be selected for succulent pods.
Holly, I just figured out who you meant. All plans put on hold until certain other issues are taken care of.
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Post by MikeH on Jan 13, 2012 16:57:48 GMT -5
Perennial bean... oooo... another plant I'm hankering for. If anyone feels like sharing, I only need a few. I had hoped that I might be able to get seeds from Food Forest Farm but they say that they need all of their seeds for their own production. Sigh. Regards, Mike
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Post by perennialnursery on Feb 5, 2012 14:45:03 GMT -5
Phaseolus polystachios plants can be ordered on the Food Forest Farm web site. We appreciate your business! www.permaculturenursery.com
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