Bean Grow Down 2022-23
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Beans are a part of the Leguminosae Family.
The Leguminosae family has been re-classified many times by different taxonomists in to what is now considered Sub-family names with no botanical standing. Information here may conflict with other texts.
BEANS - in this Grow Down
FAMILY - LEGUMINOSAE
SUB-FAMILIES - Fabaceae, Caesalpinioideae and Mimosoideae
GENUS - Phaseolus, Glycine, Psophocarpus, Vicia, Vigna
SPECIES - acutifolius, coccineus, lunatus and vulgaris
The Leguminosae family has been re-classified many times by different taxonomists in to what is now considered Sub-family names with no botanical standing. Information here may conflict with other texts.
BEANS - in this Grow Down
FAMILY - LEGUMINOSAE
SUB-FAMILIES - Fabaceae, Caesalpinioideae and Mimosoideae
GENUS - Phaseolus, Glycine, Psophocarpus, Vicia, Vigna
SPECIES - acutifolius, coccineus, lunatus and vulgaris
All Beans are from the Leguminosae Family which includes more than 600 Genera and 12,000 species, of which only about 25 species are commonly grown for food production. For the most part we will be choosing bean varieties from the Phaseolus Genus but we are not limited to just this Genus.. For example some are growing Broad beans (Vicia faba) and Soybeans (Glycine max).. Pea’s are also included in the Leguminosae family, but we’ll just stick to beans for now, though seed saving techniques will be similar.
Leguminosae flowers are perfect, meaning that they have both male and female parts and are self pollinating. The pollen does not usually get transferred to the stigma until the flower is disturbed or tripped by the wind or by honey bees and other insects. Occasionally this can cause cross pollination, even though it is rare, for seed saving purposes we need to take this in to consideration. The extent of insect cross-pollination is hotly debated, the percentage of crossing depends on the type of flower, the number of bees and other pollen carrying insects and whether or not there are other food sources in the area for the bees. Sometimes the seed coat patterns and shapes are used to prove the presence or absence of crossing but there are other genetic characteristics that are not visible in their seeds, so statements about seed purity based solely on seed coat characteristics are not valid and are only an indication of crossed seed. Even if crossing has occurred that is capable of showing up visibly, the crossed seeds will look exactly the same as the parent seeds. It is only after another generation is grown out that evidence of crossing will become visible. Ideally for this challenge we would like to keep the different varieties separate from each other and consider planting lots of flowers for the bees to forage. I have also included some Marigold seeds for this.
Plant selection is also very important! Always save seeds from healthy plants.. this is my Number 1 Seed Saving Rule. Remember you are passing on the genetics of each plant so we don’t want to save seeds from weak or diseased plants. Legumes should be rogued out after the plants emerge and during flowering and pod formation. Plant all of the seeds I’ve provided, or at least 2x as many as you would like to grow and choose the strongest and most true to type plants to grow out. Also consider what the desired characteristics are for each variety, flower colour, leaf shape, number of flowers per node.. Seed should not be saved from plants that do not exhibit the characteristics of the variety.
Legume seeds are usually left on the plant to dry and fully mature although sometimes, depending on weather conditions, we may need to harvest them earlier, recommendations are to harvest the entire plant and hang it in a dry place until the pods are dry. This allows the seeds to continue to draw energy from the plant for several more days providing a higher quality seed. Ensure your seed pods are crispy dry before harvesting your beans. For large harvests there are different techniques for removing the seeds from the pods, but for most of us the joy will be in opening the pods by hand. Lay your bean seeds out to dry in a large open box out of direct sunlight. To test if your bean seeds are completely dry, put several seed on a hard surface and hit each one with a hammer. If your seeds shatter they are dry enough for storage, if they mash instead of shattering they need further drying.
Bean seeds are prone to Weevils, if you have had issues with weevils in your environment or you have any reason for concern then you can freeze your dried beans to avoid this problem. Weevil eggs are killed by 3 days at -17degC, it is best to leave them in the freezer for 5-7days though as our home freezers may not reach this temperature. When removing seeds from the freezer it is important not to open the container until they have returned to room temperature to avoid condensation contaminating your seeds. Be aware if your seeds are not perfectly dry then freezing may damage your seeds.
Leguminosae flowers are perfect, meaning that they have both male and female parts and are self pollinating. The pollen does not usually get transferred to the stigma until the flower is disturbed or tripped by the wind or by honey bees and other insects. Occasionally this can cause cross pollination, even though it is rare, for seed saving purposes we need to take this in to consideration. The extent of insect cross-pollination is hotly debated, the percentage of crossing depends on the type of flower, the number of bees and other pollen carrying insects and whether or not there are other food sources in the area for the bees. Sometimes the seed coat patterns and shapes are used to prove the presence or absence of crossing but there are other genetic characteristics that are not visible in their seeds, so statements about seed purity based solely on seed coat characteristics are not valid and are only an indication of crossed seed. Even if crossing has occurred that is capable of showing up visibly, the crossed seeds will look exactly the same as the parent seeds. It is only after another generation is grown out that evidence of crossing will become visible. Ideally for this challenge we would like to keep the different varieties separate from each other and consider planting lots of flowers for the bees to forage. I have also included some Marigold seeds for this.
Plant selection is also very important! Always save seeds from healthy plants.. this is my Number 1 Seed Saving Rule. Remember you are passing on the genetics of each plant so we don’t want to save seeds from weak or diseased plants. Legumes should be rogued out after the plants emerge and during flowering and pod formation. Plant all of the seeds I’ve provided, or at least 2x as many as you would like to grow and choose the strongest and most true to type plants to grow out. Also consider what the desired characteristics are for each variety, flower colour, leaf shape, number of flowers per node.. Seed should not be saved from plants that do not exhibit the characteristics of the variety.
Legume seeds are usually left on the plant to dry and fully mature although sometimes, depending on weather conditions, we may need to harvest them earlier, recommendations are to harvest the entire plant and hang it in a dry place until the pods are dry. This allows the seeds to continue to draw energy from the plant for several more days providing a higher quality seed. Ensure your seed pods are crispy dry before harvesting your beans. For large harvests there are different techniques for removing the seeds from the pods, but for most of us the joy will be in opening the pods by hand. Lay your bean seeds out to dry in a large open box out of direct sunlight. To test if your bean seeds are completely dry, put several seed on a hard surface and hit each one with a hammer. If your seeds shatter they are dry enough for storage, if they mash instead of shattering they need further drying.
Bean seeds are prone to Weevils, if you have had issues with weevils in your environment or you have any reason for concern then you can freeze your dried beans to avoid this problem. Weevil eggs are killed by 3 days at -17degC, it is best to leave them in the freezer for 5-7days though as our home freezers may not reach this temperature. When removing seeds from the freezer it is important not to open the container until they have returned to room temperature to avoid condensation contaminating your seeds. Be aware if your seeds are not perfectly dry then freezing may damage your seeds.
Grow Down Participants 2022-23
Beans List - Bean Grow Down 2022-23
Seed Library Bean listings https://www.nzseedsavers.com/beans.html
Abenaki Pean (Angela Van Wayenburg) Joy Wang, Kris Edgington
Amish bean Dwarf (Phaseolus vulgaris) Miriam Exley, Jennifer-Hine Le Lievre, Christina Sargent, Shannon Smith, Karen Cooper, Siobhan Conner
Bobica Dwarf Bean, Best green Donna Hossack, Sam Koehler, Louise Va’auli, Alison Houtghton,Tania Han,Sam Koehler
Borlotto Fire Tongue dwarf (Angela Van Wayenburg) Joy Wang, Kris Edgington
Broad Beans - (Vicia faba) Audrey Marsh, Louise Va’auli Tania Han
Kaiapoi, Pink Seeded Dwarf (P vulgaris) Philip Wills, Donna Hossack, Sam Koehler, Melissa Burbery, Louise Va’auli, Min Lee,Tania Han, Rosee Hodgson
Celebration Runner Bean (Phaseolus coccineus) Stephanie Kalamkoff, Andrea Graham, Karen Cooper
Christmas Lima Pole beans (Melissa Bradford)
Cherokee dwarf butter Margaret McQuillan, Sam Koehler, Melissa Burbery, Miriam Exley, Min Lee, Alison Houtghton, Shannon Smith, Edelyn Chiew,Sam Koehler,Rosee Hodgson
Emu Bean, Climbing green bean Melissa Burbery, Anna Flendrig, Min Lee
Flagg beans Audrey Marsh,Rich Lynch
Gila Climbing Bean Jennifer-Hine Le Lievre, Anna Flendrig, Andrea Graham, Miriama Harman, Karen Cooper, Rosee Hodgson
Holy Bean, Climber. Best eaten dried, fast cooking, smoky flavor Melissa Burbery, Christina Sargent,Min Lee, Tania Han, Rosee Hodgson
Hopi light yellow Bean, Eaten green but especially dried Louise Va’auli, Rosee Hodgson
King of the blues Dana Thompson, Sarah Board, Andrea Graham, Sarah Board
Lazy housewife bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) Audrey Marsh, Margaret McQuillan, Sam Koehler
Major Cooks Climbing Sarah Board, Jody Thomas
Mayflower bean (Angela Van Wayenburg) Andrea Graham, Joy Wang, Kris Edgingtion
Painted Lady Runner beans, (Phaseolus coccc ineus) Anna Flendrig, Sarah Board, Kerstin Reich, Tania Han, Joy Wang, Kris Edgingtion
Rydal A, French Dwarf Bean Andrea Graham
Scarlet Runner Bean, (Phaseolus coccineus) Louise Va’auli
Scarlet Runner Bean, (Phaseolus coccineus) Audrey Marsh
Yugoslavian Dwarf Bean, (Phaseolus vulgaris) Jasmin Hill, Jennifer-Hine Le Lievre
Heritage Food Crops Research Trust Beans https://www.heritagefoodcrops.org.nz/heirloom-beans
American Pea Bean, climbing Louise Va’auli, Jasmin Hill, Edelyn Chiew
Apache Red, Dry climbing bean Dana Thompson, Anna Flendrig
Bicolour Pean (Pea Bean) Climbing (dry bean) Anna Flendrig, Jasmin Hill
Blue lake climbing bean Shannon Smith, Karen Cooper,
Caseknife climbing bean Sam Koehler, Jody Thomas
Chestnut Lima bean Sara Hiltrop
Cherokee cornfield climbing bean (green or dry) Hazel Vickers, Jasmin Hill, Rich Lynch
Cranberry dwarf Jasmin Hill
Fat Goose climbing bean (shell out or dry) Alison Houghton, Jody Thomas
Flor de Mayo, Dry climbing bean from San Luis Potosi, Mexico Kerstin Reich, Dana Thompson, Edelyn Chiew
Good Mother Stallard, Dry climbing bean Donna Hossack, Jasmin Hill
Gila Climbing bean, dry Emma Galloway, Anna Flendrig
Hidatsa Shield Figure Jasmin Hill
Hopi Purple String Bean (green, shell, dry) Miriam Exley, Louise Va’auli
Holy Climbing bean (dry) Emma Galloway, Shannon Smith, Rich Lynch
Italian (Valena) Climbing bean Jennifer-Hine Le Lievre
Iraqi climbing bean Miriama Harman, Jody Thomas
Indian Hannah Climbing bean (dryh) Kerstin Reich, Karen Cooper
Indian climbing bean Sara Hiltrop
Lima del Papa Siobhan Conner
Major Cook’s Climbing Bean Kerstin Reich, Tania Han
Mr Inesons Climbing bean Dana Thompson, Shannon Smith
Neil’s Climbing bean (aka Jimenez)Emma Galloway, Shannon Smith, Siobhan Conner, Edelyn Chiew, Alice Hayes
Ojo de Cabra (Goats Eye) ex Tarahumara, Mexico Audrey Marsh, Donna Hossack
Paul Bunyan Giant Bean (climber) Jennifer-Hine Le Lievre
Persian Lima Siobhan Conner
Pepa de Zapallo Jasmin Hill
Prices Cherokee Sara Hiltrop, Rosee Hodgson
Purple Star from Tarahumara, Mexico Kerstin Reich, Emma Galloway
Seneka Speckled Bird Egg, climbing green bean Audrey Marsh, Donna Hossack
Tarahumara Purple climbing bean (green or dry)Kerstin Reich, Anna Flendrig
Yellow Indian woman Siobhan Conner
Seed Savers Seeds
Anasazi bean Jasmin Hill, Rosee Hodgson, Rich Lynch
Blue lake runner beans (Nicki Murray-Orr) Sarah Board, Jody Thomas
Blue lake runner beans Sarah Mackay (own seed)
Blue lake runner beans Dana Thompson (own seed)
Blue lake runner beans Dana Thompson (own seed)
Blue shackamaxon Alison Houghton (own seed)
Broad beans Christina Sargent (own seed)
Dutch Brown Minette Tonoli (own seed)
Fred’s Dwarf (Jon Berczely) Donna Hossack
Flagg Climbing bean (Jon Berczely) Donna Hossack
Flagg Climbing bean Alison Houghton (own seed)
Italian Valena, Bob’s beans (Jasmin Hill) Siobhan Conner
Norridgewok Pean, green or dry (Melissa Bradford) - Melissa Burbery
Ojo de Cabra Minette Tonoli (own seed)
Painted Lady Runner Alison Houghton (own seed)
Persian Lima bean (Jon Berczely) Audrey Marsh
Romano Climbing bean Alison Houghton (own seed)
Romano Climbing bean (Jon Berczely) Jasmin Hill
Romano Climbing bean Minette Tonoli (own seed)
Red Kidney bean, dwarf Hazel Vickers (own seed)
Selugia climbing bean Christina Sargent (own seed)
Scarlet Runner Dana Thompson (own seed)
STORY BOARD
Jasmin Hill
28 August 2022
I am completely new to growing beans, last season I attempted to grow a few different varieties but I wasn't very successful.. This year I'm looking forward to growing a nice harvest and finally tasting what home grown beans really taste like!
Minette Tonoli has written a little about her Bean growing experiences for us and shared some ways to cook them here... https://www.nzseedsavers.com/beans-blog
We have such a beautiful selection of beans to start this years Grow Down, thanks to everyone that has donated seeds! A big thanks to the Heritage Food Crops for their contribution of beans to this Grow Down.
28 August 2022
I am completely new to growing beans, last season I attempted to grow a few different varieties but I wasn't very successful.. This year I'm looking forward to growing a nice harvest and finally tasting what home grown beans really taste like!
Minette Tonoli has written a little about her Bean growing experiences for us and shared some ways to cook them here... https://www.nzseedsavers.com/beans-blog
We have such a beautiful selection of beans to start this years Grow Down, thanks to everyone that has donated seeds! A big thanks to the Heritage Food Crops for their contribution of beans to this Grow Down.
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31 August 2022
When choosing Bean varieties to grow for Seed Saving there's a few things we need to consider.. Cross pollination and Genetic Diversity are my main considerations so I can plan how many varieties I can choose, how many plants I can grow and where I should plant them in my gardens..
Are they likely to cross pollinate? So will I need to seperate them in my gardens or should I only grow one variety in a species? Should I be worried about my neighbours.. how many bees do I have around? How much other food is around for the bees? Everyone's situation is different so we all have different things to consider.. I have 3 beehives in the middle of my gardens so I am going to have to be mindful of cross pollination.
I have 3 different books that all have different pieces of information, I've found I like Susan Ashworth's discriptions in her book Seed to Seed.. There are so many bean Genus and Species I had no idea!
When choosing Bean varieties to grow for Seed Saving there's a few things we need to consider.. Cross pollination and Genetic Diversity are my main considerations so I can plan how many varieties I can choose, how many plants I can grow and where I should plant them in my gardens..
Are they likely to cross pollinate? So will I need to seperate them in my gardens or should I only grow one variety in a species? Should I be worried about my neighbours.. how many bees do I have around? How much other food is around for the bees? Everyone's situation is different so we all have different things to consider.. I have 3 beehives in the middle of my gardens so I am going to have to be mindful of cross pollination.
I have 3 different books that all have different pieces of information, I've found I like Susan Ashworth's discriptions in her book Seed to Seed.. There are so many bean Genus and Species I had no idea!
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5 September 2022
Wow I am amazed at the different plants in the Legume family! Not only Beans and pea's but peanuts and many more interesting plants too!.. Stefanie Kalmakoff bought to my attention that Kaka beak are also legumes.. and I was just looking through some photo's to see that Snail vines are also legumes too.. I have a snail vine growing in one of my glasshouses, it has a lovely scent. What are some other plants from the Leguminosae family? |
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Comments -
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Louise Margaret Va'auli
Maybe the kowhai tree |
Audrey Marsh
Clover is also a legume! |
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Anna Flendrig
There is carob and inga bean, Oh, and the butterfly pea! Peanuts and Lupins |
Sara Hiltrop
tree lucerne, gorse |
Steven William Goodfellow
im going to try growing hyacinth bean this year also growing many species of acacia, albizia, brooms, locusts, kowhai, mimosa, indigo, laburnum etc mostly for nitrogen fixing but they all have a multitude of other uses too
im going to try growing hyacinth bean this year also growing many species of acacia, albizia, brooms, locusts, kowhai, mimosa, indigo, laburnum etc mostly for nitrogen fixing but they all have a multitude of other uses too
Andrea Graham
30 August 2022
I thought this was an interesting article and learned something new. Avoid planting beans near Alliums - chives, garlic, leeks and onions. Dang! Guess what I just planted in the beds where the beans are going.
30 August 2022
I thought this was an interesting article and learned something new. Avoid planting beans near Alliums - chives, garlic, leeks and onions. Dang! Guess what I just planted in the beds where the beans are going.
Comments -
Alice Le Brun
26 September 2022
I have started some beans inside this weekend for the Bean grow down.
Yellow Indian woman, Fat goose, Ohio pole and Tuscarora bread bean. Unfortunately I only have 3 seeds for a starting point on the Tuscarora so I really hope they grow well.
I am hoping I can contribute far more seed to this Grow Down, my pumpkins completely failed last season and I had nothing I could send in.
I have Red seeded Broad beans flowering in the garden.
Happy gardening everyone
26 September 2022
I have started some beans inside this weekend for the Bean grow down.
Yellow Indian woman, Fat goose, Ohio pole and Tuscarora bread bean. Unfortunately I only have 3 seeds for a starting point on the Tuscarora so I really hope they grow well.
I am hoping I can contribute far more seed to this Grow Down, my pumpkins completely failed last season and I had nothing I could send in.
I have Red seeded Broad beans flowering in the garden.
Happy gardening everyone
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3 October 2022
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Abbey Cooper
22 September 2022 Beans beans beans - they are erupting. Next week will be pricking out into individuals 6 packs and prepping of final beds and putting up more bean frames. So excited. Thanks Jaz. |
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27 September 2022
Beans update. I am putting these photos up to show the Newbies how germination can be so different between varieties, commercial, home saved seed, fresh and old seed. Failure is not always with the gardener. 14 days planted. |
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L - Blue Lake climbing - King Seed
R - Tendergreen Bush - Seed saved from our crop last year |
L - Tendergreen Bush - Egmont Commercial
R- Fardenlosa climbing - Friend’s organic seed |
L - Top Crop Bush - Egmont commercial..
R - Oriental Yard Long Wonder Bean - seed saved from last year |
L - Celebration Runner - Seed Savers Library
R - Armish Bush Bean - Seed Savers LIbrary |
L - R
Emu Climbing - Koanga Heritage Kaiapoi Pink The Prince - Koanga Heritage Cobra Runner - King seed King of the Blues - king seed Unknown bush crop saved from last year |
L - Shiny Fardenlosa - Egmont seed
R - stringless Scarlett Runner - Egmont seed I have had continual trouble growing these seeds. Turn to mush/not sprout. If anyone has any ideas I would be grateful. I think these seeds have been bought in from overseas and dusted with something for them NOT to grow. They failed right from the start, this is 2nd year trying. |
Comments -
Jasmin Hill
From what I have heard it's not uncommon for commercial seeds to be a bit hit and miss, I have heard this especially with Egmont's seeds. It has also been shown that you will get better harvests and stronger plants from seeds once they have been grown out and saved in NZ.
Jasmin Hill
From what I have heard it's not uncommon for commercial seeds to be a bit hit and miss, I have heard this especially with Egmont's seeds. It has also been shown that you will get better harvests and stronger plants from seeds once they have been grown out and saved in NZ.
Dana Thompson
That is fascinating. I found such a huge difference between the same varieties of tomato and peppers from different suppliers this year and several commercial brassicas not germinating at all where home saved are. Very interesting and has made me more determined to keep all my own seeds
That is fascinating. I found such a huge difference between the same varieties of tomato and peppers from different suppliers this year and several commercial brassicas not germinating at all where home saved are. Very interesting and has made me more determined to keep all my own seeds
Brooke Connolly
Ah yes very different between varieties there. Do beans mind their roots being disturbed when planted like cucurbits?
Abbey Cooper
No I haven’t noticed overall but you do need to do the separation early before they get entangled. I plan to seperate today or tomorrow into containers. The seed trays will be running out of nutrients soon, so they will be grateful for fresh soil. I am trying to hold off putting them into the ground until slightly warmer weather but they may need to go in as some are rocketing away. I plant all my seeds this way no matter what I am growing.
Abbey Cooper
FYI - when I seperate into 6 packs (I use the larger size) I trim the long roots back to where the main roots are forming the root ball. Makes it easier for putting in the pots and in my honest opinion it helps to grow extra roots from the root ball before planting out in the garden.
Roddy Branagan - Setha's Seeds
Care does need to be taken, but we use the tray method too with great success, although in our tunnel house we can direct sow which is always preferable, also we find that germination of the beans start to fail after about 3 years and after 5 or 6 years germination tends to fail completely. So 3 year old seed starts to lose its vitality, fresh beans should definately germinate.
Jody Thomas
I will be using loo rolls gives easy transplants with minimal root disturbance.
Ah yes very different between varieties there. Do beans mind their roots being disturbed when planted like cucurbits?
Abbey Cooper
No I haven’t noticed overall but you do need to do the separation early before they get entangled. I plan to seperate today or tomorrow into containers. The seed trays will be running out of nutrients soon, so they will be grateful for fresh soil. I am trying to hold off putting them into the ground until slightly warmer weather but they may need to go in as some are rocketing away. I plant all my seeds this way no matter what I am growing.
Abbey Cooper
FYI - when I seperate into 6 packs (I use the larger size) I trim the long roots back to where the main roots are forming the root ball. Makes it easier for putting in the pots and in my honest opinion it helps to grow extra roots from the root ball before planting out in the garden.
Roddy Branagan - Setha's Seeds
Care does need to be taken, but we use the tray method too with great success, although in our tunnel house we can direct sow which is always preferable, also we find that germination of the beans start to fail after about 3 years and after 5 or 6 years germination tends to fail completely. So 3 year old seed starts to lose its vitality, fresh beans should definately germinate.
Jody Thomas
I will be using loo rolls gives easy transplants with minimal root disturbance.
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Miriama Alice Harman
7 October 2022 My beans survived the snow :) |
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Andrea Graham
12 October 2022 Update. The chooks are now working their way thru garlic and potato beds. Every time i find an escape route and fix it. Then theres another one. I might have to start from scratch with a whole new one. I really dont want to fence my gardens. They were not designed for that. But im thinking of options. one month ago i enthusiastically sowed 6 of each of my precious beans. I was so enthused i sowed another 30 varieties. The photos were taken 3 weeks ago. Feeling chuffed that the trellis and beds were ready ahead of time last week and got them all planted and mulched. Last night 20 chooks realised they can fly over the fence. Today i hearded them back into their very large fenced area every 2 hours between work meetings. But once they found the bean rows and the 80 heritage sweetcorn crop too, i was fighting a losing battle. Its a field of vege seedling devastation out there. I can't bring myself to take a photo of it. I'm off to entice them back in one last time so i can clip their wings. Feeling so gutted. |
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Jasmin Hill
20 October 2022
Beans Beans glorious beautiful Beans! I never thought I’d be so excited about Beans
These are the Beans I have chosen for this years Grow Down, what a beautiful selection! Most of them germinated well, one variety, Yugoslav dwarf had a very poor germination but otherwise I’ve had great success They are all sitting happy in my glasshouse along with my pumpkin seedlings, waiting for November to roll around before I start planting them out.
I can see I’m going to have another seedy addiction to add to my long list of obsessions, so many colours! I sure am looking forward to eating some too.
20 October 2022
Beans Beans glorious beautiful Beans! I never thought I’d be so excited about Beans
These are the Beans I have chosen for this years Grow Down, what a beautiful selection! Most of them germinated well, one variety, Yugoslav dwarf had a very poor germination but otherwise I’ve had great success They are all sitting happy in my glasshouse along with my pumpkin seedlings, waiting for November to roll around before I start planting them out.
I can see I’m going to have another seedy addiction to add to my long list of obsessions, so many colours! I sure am looking forward to eating some too.
From Left to Right..
Pepa de Zapallo, Anasazi, Cherokee Cornfield, Cranberry dwarf, White Butterfly runner, Hidatsa Shield Figure, Good Mother Stallard, Bi colour pean and Yugoslav dwarf. |
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25 October 2022
Today was the day I planted out my first beans for this years Bean Grow Down
I had saved a few good places inside each of my 3 glasshouses to grow beans and today I filled them all up.. And now I have some empty root trainers to fill yay! I'll wait a little longer before I plant any beans outside.
Today was the day I planted out my first beans for this years Bean Grow Down
I had saved a few good places inside each of my 3 glasshouses to grow beans and today I filled them all up.. And now I have some empty root trainers to fill yay! I'll wait a little longer before I plant any beans outside.
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4 November 2022
Pre germinating my last run of seeds for my Beans #BGD, Corn and Cucurbita's.. all my ziplock bags are cleaned and recycled (steamed up from the heat pad). This is my favorite way of starting these seeds so I can see when they germinate and choose the strongest seeds to plant.
I'm excited about this years Grow Down, incorporating all three of our Grow Down plants in the 3 sisters technique and starting my first Landrace with Cucurbita Moschata pumpkins.
Pre germinating my last run of seeds for my Beans #BGD, Corn and Cucurbita's.. all my ziplock bags are cleaned and recycled (steamed up from the heat pad). This is my favorite way of starting these seeds so I can see when they germinate and choose the strongest seeds to plant.
I'm excited about this years Grow Down, incorporating all three of our Grow Down plants in the 3 sisters technique and starting my first Landrace with Cucurbita Moschata pumpkins.
11 November 2022
The weather has been fabulous here the past few days so I have been out planting my first Three Sisters garden, Kaanga ma corn, Cherokee cornfield beans for the Grow Down #Bgd and a mixture of Cucurbita Moschata pumpkins for the beginning of my landrace
I have planted established bean plants and also direct sown, pre germinated seeds as well. I haven't really grown beans before and from what I understand direct sown is best so I'm covering my bases and trying both.
Very excited to have 1 Yugoslav dwarf bean germinate beautifully I thought I might have lost this variety.
The weather has been fabulous here the past few days so I have been out planting my first Three Sisters garden, Kaanga ma corn, Cherokee cornfield beans for the Grow Down #Bgd and a mixture of Cucurbita Moschata pumpkins for the beginning of my landrace
I have planted established bean plants and also direct sown, pre germinated seeds as well. I haven't really grown beans before and from what I understand direct sown is best so I'm covering my bases and trying both.
Very excited to have 1 Yugoslav dwarf bean germinate beautifully I thought I might have lost this variety.
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18 November 2022
So far my dwarf cranberry beans are my best performing beans
So far my dwarf cranberry beans are my best performing beans
Alice Le Brun
29 November 2022
Yellow Indian woman beans are doing well for me this year, when conditions are not sufficient they can act like a dwarf bean but this year these are starting to climb.
29 November 2022
Yellow Indian woman beans are doing well for me this year, when conditions are not sufficient they can act like a dwarf bean but this year these are starting to climb.
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