| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| knead2garden |
Posted - Dec 18 2011 : 04:31:09 AM
My husband have been very blessed to be willed heirloom green beans that go back (on my husband's side) as far as any family member can remember. These are the best runner beans I've EVER had in my life. They have a green pod like a white 1/2 runner, but are filled with a brown bean that is similar to a pinto bean.
The problem... We can't get them to produce..
Gramps (DH grandfather) was a farmer that thought everything should be drinched in chemicals. These beans have NO tolerance for a natural growing habitat. The 2012 garden season will the the 4th year we have attempted to grow these beans. My husband is a former county ext. agent, so I know the conditions are right.
DH works a full time job and I am a SAHM with 3 boys and one due in July, so I work the garden as well as I can in the summer, but there are always weeds:(
DH's family is getting upset with us. They say we should just spray them and "save the beans"..."your killing Gramp's beans!"...among other things. We've offered to give the family seeds so they can grow their own if they want, but to date no takers..
I had an idea I wanted to run by you all. I was thinking about starting some seeds now inside (just a few) and transplanting them the earliest they can go outside. I know that beans usually are seeded directly, but I read in a seed savers book that one could save the "tuber like roots" and plant them as soon as the ground was ready.
Any suggestions? I'm afraid we really are killing the beans...
Thanks you all,
Ashley
~Ashley
#1677
"In the end we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will understand only what we have been taught." -Baba Dioum |
| 14 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| brightmeadow |
Posted - Dec 26 2011 : 03:57:18 AM
It could also be that perhaps your soil has too much nitrogen which promotes the vegetative growth, and not enough phosphorus or potassium? Have you had the soil tested? I'm not sure what the best balance is for beans, but perhaps these heirlooms have adapted to the particular soil type/ nutrient mix in the "homeplace"which could be different?
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands - You shall be happy and it shall be well with you. -Psalm 128.2
Visit my blog at http://brightmeadowfarms.blogspot.com [ or my homepage at http://home.earthlink.net/~brightmeadow |
| knead2garden |
Posted - Dec 23 2011 : 04:47:30 AM
I will for sure try building a box around them. Unfortunately, due to cross pollination, I can't grow any other type of bean with these:( There are so many other beautiful bean types I'd love to try!
I understand the other family members, too. It makes my DH feel horrible!
Thanks for your ideas!
Much love and Merry Christmas!
~Ashley
#1677
"In the end we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will understand only what we have been taught." -Baba Dioum |
| marthajane |
Posted - Dec 22 2011 : 6:10:47 PM
ashley-i think you and dh are incredibly blessed to have an heirloom of seeds from the grandfather-i can almost empathize with the ones who mourn their loss-not to say its anyones fault!
i also wanted to note that i saw some green bean seeds for sale which produce the brown pinto-at kentucky's yesterday's farm-i had to do a search on the mjf site and then click the link they posted to go there-
just thinking you could preserve the ones of your relatives and try the other 3 kinds i think they have for sale
they do sound extremely good-i am quite interested in trying them out as well
also i would build a screen box around them-trying to determine if the bugs are breeding in the soil or flying in for the attack
thanks for sharing this cool story-i love the idea of family seeds!
Happiness IS being a MOM |
| FarmDream |
Posted - Dec 21 2011 : 10:11:10 AM
Some gardening places can identify the bugs for you if you take them a couple. Fish emulsion provides phosphorous. Most plants require nitrogen, etc. I have a natural liquid concentrate I bought at my garden center. There's lots of natural pest repellants. I recently read that wood ashes work well. I wish you luck.
~FarmDream is Farmgirl Sister #3069
Live Today, Cherish Yesterday, Dream Tomorrow
http://naturaljulie.etsy.com
http://julie-rants.blogspot.com |
| knead2garden |
Posted - Dec 21 2011 : 03:57:35 AM
I've considered contacting 'The Seed Savers Exchange', but have not taken the time to do it. We purchase from them when we need seeds. I've never heard of Baker Creek Seed Co., but will look them up!
To my knowledge we are the only people who have these seeds, not considering whomever Gramp's gave them to over the years (family does not know of any).
Last year we used fish emulsion as a fertilizer. Do you know of another type that may work better for beans? The fish emulsion is our 'go to' fertilizer.
It is amazing to watch the bugs on these beans. I, literally can pick bugs off for hours. The bugs only attack the beans like this. The rest of our garden has some insect damage, but the beans are a different story!
~Ashley
#1677
"In the end we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will understand only what we have been taught." -Baba Dioum |
| FarmDream |
Posted - Dec 20 2011 : 6:55:47 PM
Have you tried fertilizing with a natural fertilizer? It sounds as though they start great but then maybe don't have enough nutrition to make it over the hump and produce well. Are there any seed companies with these heirloom seeds? Maybe they could give you advice. You might even see if you could send some to Baker Creek Seed Co. to try and grow for you. And if you've offered some to your family and they refuse, then they have no room to complain about not keeping the line of seeds going.
~FarmDream is Farmgirl Sister #3069
Live Today, Cherish Yesterday, Dream Tomorrow
http://naturaljulie.etsy.com
http://julie-rants.blogspot.com |
| knead2garden |
Posted - Dec 20 2011 : 1:30:28 PM
Sounds good, Kathy. Enjoy your time with your Mother:)
~Ashley
#1677
"In the end we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will understand only what we have been taught." -Baba Dioum |
| KathyC |
Posted - Dec 20 2011 : 12:02:51 PM
If they need to be planted as soon as they arrive, later would be better. I'm going to be gone for a couple of weeks, my mom will be 90 on January 1 so I'm off the California for a couple of weeks. Will let you know what is a good time.
I'll prepare their little beds when I get back, make a cage so the bunnies won't eat them up and we'll see what happens.
Thanks
Kathy |
| knead2garden |
Posted - Dec 19 2011 : 2:22:40 PM
Kathy,
I think that would be fun! I am very limited on seed beans, but I could mail you 4 or 5 to see how they turn out. Last year we only had three of the plants produce any, so our seeds are from those few plants. This is our make it or break it year..lol.
Msg me your address and I'll search a way to ship them. His grandfather froze the seeds to keep them, so I need to make sure that letting them warm up will not damage them in some way. If they have to be planted as soon as they thaw, would you like them now or closer to the season?
I think this is going to be quite fun!
~Ashley
#1677
"In the end we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will understand only what we have been taught." -Baba Dioum |
| KathyC |
Posted - Dec 19 2011 : 12:53:52 PM
Ashley,
I am a beginning gardener but I think it would be fun to try to grow a few of your beans over here in my neck of the woods. I would keep a journal for you and see what happens here. I don't have room for many plants but do have 2 locations that I think might work, maybe 7-10 plants. If your interested let me know.
Kathy |
| knead2garden |
Posted - Dec 19 2011 : 02:50:17 AM
Melina,
I never thought of that! We live in East Tn and so did Gramps, BUT East Tn is a split zone! It does seem that they do well until the heat kicks in and then they start to die. Our soil is not so great (over farmed for several generations b/f we purchased, shrink swell clay, etc.), but we did a raised bed last year for the beans.
Thanks very much for your thoughts:)
Much love,
~Ashley
#1677
"In the end we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will understand only what we have been taught." -Baba Dioum |
| Melina |
Posted - Dec 18 2011 : 5:32:38 PM
Was Grandpa in the same zone, area, etc? If not, they may be susceptible to a blight that is in your soil. Heirlooms are great, but some were developed for years in one area and don't necessarily do well in another with different conditions. I've seen beans that did well for me in Arizona just turn toes-up and die in Arkansas.
The morning breeze has secrets to tell you. Do not go back to sleep.
Rumi |
| knead2garden |
Posted - Dec 18 2011 : 2:39:21 PM
They actually sprout and vine. The problem is right b/f it's time to start picking the vines die. Most of the leaves are not very uniform, either...
I think I am going to try to start some inside. I need to get my hands in the dirt anyway..lol
~Ashley
#1677
"In the end we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will understand only what we have been taught." -Baba Dioum |
| StrawHouseRanch |
Posted - Dec 18 2011 : 08:26:50 AM
I remember when I was in grade school, we did one of those little science experiments where we put a bean in a baggie with a moist paper towel just to see how it sprouts. Maybe you could test a couple of your beans in the same way, just to make sure they aren't sterile for some reason. Then you would know if you could proceed with going to the effort to try starting some indoors. You might have some kind of little aphid that is eating the sprouts before you even see them come up out of the soil outdoors. Giving them a nice start indoors might give them that boost they need to run the bug gauntlet in the garden.
Paula
Farmgirl Sister #3090
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery, and Today is a Gift.
|
