Re: Green Beans

happycamper 8/12/2013, 5:08 pm

Just to chime in on the subject, my Kentucky Wonder pole beans are doing the same thing. They grew and have produced very, very few beans and are just sitting there. I have seen this before, I know they will produce in late fall which makes it nice for fresh fall green beans.

The Kentucky Wonder bush and Blue Lake bush beans are producing like crazy right now. I started planting bush and pole beans a few years ago (I used to only plant pole beans) to make sure that I had a steady supply since the bush beans produce faster than poles.

**camprn** 8/12/2013, 5:13 pm

After I had some troubles with them I abandoned my KW beans and now exclusively grow the rattlesnake pole beans. They are prolific producers all the way to frost.

**Turan** 8/12/2013, 9:42 pm

My pole beans usually go past their poles and cascade. This year the hail cut them off at pole height so we will see. They are now starting to bloom. They always are later than the bush beans but then produce steadily till frost kills them. I do not have a long enough season to rely on them so I don't plant too many and concentrate on bush beans. Next year I hope to grow them in the greenhouse along with yard long beans.

Marc Iverson 8/12/2013, 10:44 pm

walshevak wrote:I'm blaming the rich compost I covered my beds with in May. Usually I have a spring crop and the beans go where the peas were without additional compost. This year I didn't have a spring garden. Did I read it here on someplace else that beans prefer a leaner soil?

Kay

I've read that an especially nitrogen-rich soil encourages plants to go for green growth rather than to flower and fruit. Mel says as much in his first book, too (haven't gotten the second one yet).

**camprn** 8/12/2013, 11:15 pm

Marc Iverson wrote:
walshevak wrote:I'm blaming the rich compost I covered my beds with in May. Usually I have a spring crop and the beans go where the peas were without additional compost. This year I didn't have a spring garden. Did I read it here on someplace else that beans prefer a leaner soil?

Kay
I've read that an especially nitrogen-rich soil encourages plants to go for green growth rather than to flower and fruit. Mel says as much in his first book, too (haven't gotten the second one yet).

Bean plants prefer well drained, fertile growing medium/soil. (compost)

http://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/publication/HG_Garden_2005-08.pdf

http://urbanext.illinois.edu/veggies/beans.cfm

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/fertilizers-increase-growth-rate-bean-plants-61935.html

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/ho-175.pdf

Dunkinjean 8/19/2013, 12:49 am

I have been growing Kentucky Wonder Pole Beans the past few years in my SFG gardens and have been extremely successful.
Yesterday I picked some and filled two buckets!
I gave most of them away to family and friends today, cooked a batch for dinner and will be blanching the rest tom to freeze in bags.
I love them!
I am thinking of trying a 2nd type of pole bean next year along with the Kentucky Wonder, any suggestions?
Tks!

WriterCPA 8/19/2013, 1:17 am

Dunkinjean!

What fabulous results! How many squares do you have in planted with the Kentucky beans?

**camprn** 8/19/2013, 7:29 am

Rattlesnake pole beans

Dunkinjean 8/19/2013, 4:06 pm

Well, I want a little crazy this year with the pole beans.

One 4x4 box only has four squares of pole beans which are growing significantly.

The other 4x8 or 10 box I tried a 3 Sisters Garden and the pole beans went crazy!
I was away for about 3 weeks this summer so when I returned it was a jungle....lol.
The pole beans in both boxes are producing beans everyday.

The corn has grown but the cobs seem slow in filling - it could be due to the overabundance of pole beans. If I grow corn again it will be by itself or with bush beans. At least I will have the stalks for Halloween and Thanksgiving....

Again today, I gave a large bag of pole beans to another neighbor. I also freeze the pole beans.

Marc Iverson 8/20/2013, 12:27 am

I'm envious! I've got tall plants (some extending at least 8 to 10 feet) with lots of greenery, but have eaten three beans in a week. I did plant late, though, so maybe the best is yet to come!

Meanwhile ... I'm envious! Envy, I tell you!

southern gardener 8/20/2013, 1:20 am

We planted about 8 more dragon's tongue beans a little while ago, and they're just about ready to "start in" again. So excited, they are so good.

**sanderson** 8/20/2013, 2:43 am

August 15th, I planted 3 sq. of Silver Queen Corn, 3 sq. of dragon tongues, and 3 sq. of snow peas. All 12 corn were up Sunday, 21/24 beans are up today and 3/24 peas are up today. Can't wait to try the corn and beans everyone talks about.

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