Beans coming out my ears

[vgqn]

It's official -- I have planted too many beans. I harvested 11 1/2 lbs today. Yes, eleven. We had deliciously sweet & tender Blue Lakes for dinner tonight, Neckargold & red pepper salad for lunch today (head's up, alces2, coming your way Monday), full & beany flavored Kwintus for dinner last night, and meltingly tender, pale yellow Marvel of Venice for dinner the night before. But there's a limit! I wonder if the InnVision shelter accepts produce donations on Sundays....

While I was harvesting, I noticed that some of the leaves were drying up. Seems the irrigation isn't working as well as it ought. So I spent a while cultivating the soil and watering, all the while wondering, "What am I doing?!? I want these beans to produce even more?!?" But, but, they're so pretty. So lush and green. And harvesting beans is such a fun treasure hunt. And I've waited so long for them. I'm not actually tired of beans yet, just a little, um, shell-shocked. (hah hah)

If you're in the area and want fresh, delicious, home-grown organic beans, speak up NOW.

Varieties, for anyone who cares: Blue Lake, Kwintus, SuperMarconi, Neckargold, Marvel of Venice, Scarlet Emperor, Big Mama (not producing yet, thank god), Brittle Wax, and Beurre de Roquencourt.

Have I mentioned that the limas have started setting already? All three varieties? No pole limas this year, at least!

Comments

[purpletigron.livejournal.com]

You have lots of strategies for dealing with this glut?

We've never yet had a glut :-(

[vgqn.livejournal.com]

Strategies include: eating them, freezing them, giving them to friends/neighbors, donating them to a local homeless shelter, and composting them. Not necessarily in that order, though composting is clearly the last resort.

It's been years since I've had a glut of beans. I'm afraid I overplanted this year, based on mediocre yields in years past.

[naomi-traveller.livejournal.com]

...you forgot canning them! ;)

i would love some, but i am not sure i can get down to san jose anytime soon.

mmm beans :)

[vgqn.livejournal.com]

Ah, that's because I can't abide canned beans, except if they're pickled. I'll take frozen over canned anytime.

If I'm going to be up your way, I'll bring you beans. But I don't see that happening in the near future, alas.

Btw, our big summer bbq is July 23, 4 pm onward. Would love to see you if you (& the boy, whom I've never met!) can make it.

[athenais.livejournal.com]

We'll be at alces2's on Monday and I'd love some beans! I love Blue Lakes, but I'd be delighted to try any of the others you have excess of.

[vgqn.livejournal.com]

Will bring beans!

[idahoswede.livejournal.com]

Can and freeze, can and freeze! If I were in the area, I'd definitely take them off your hands.

[vgqn.livejournal.com]

Freeze, yes. Can, no. I don't mind canning, but I hate canned beans. M frequently says that he never knew he liked beans until I started growing them and he got to taste them fresh.

[liveavatar.livejournal.com]

I guess I'm in the area. I could take some of those off your hands if you like.

[vgqn.livejournal.com]

Anytime you want to swing by, let me know!

[liveavatar.livejournal.com]

An email is on the way!

[headgardener.livejournal.com]

Try salting and bottling them -- seems to be a recommended traditional preserving method. Seem to be lots of recipes about for this. Let them grow into dried beans for the stock cupboard and winter soups, not to mention sowing next season?

half your luck: we have one flourishing runner bean plant, another looking very feeble (both 'Black Emperor' heritage varieties) and another two just-sown seeds in the greenhouse. Plus a patch of 'Yin-Yang' dwarf french bean down the allotment.

This afternoon, I hope to harvest our first lot of broad beans. (In the back garden, I have crimson flowering broad beans growing -- but the plan is to let those run their course in order to bulk up a supply of seed. They're one of the most popular heritage varieties in this country.

[vgqn.livejournal.com]

Salting & bottling?!? I'll look into it. Somehow I think I'm more likely to be freezing them, but with this bounty, I could afford to experiment with a few.

My runner beans are quite floriferous, but hardly any of them set beans. Any idea why? The other beans are clearly having no problems. They're all in the same area.

How do 'Black Emperor' compare to 'Scarlet Emperor'?

What's the difference between broad beans and fava beans? I've heard claims both that they're the same and that they're totally different. We grow them as a winter cover crop here. Are there cool season and warm season ones?

[wild-patience.livejournal.com]

calimac loves beans. He'll take some. I'll tell him I wrote this so he can make arrangements with you.