They’re not just beans; they’re garden-bragging rights!
Since I started a garden, I’ve always added pole beans. They have never failed me. I have grown them up a fence, straight from the ground with make-shift support systems, and in containers, like the time I grew some around an old broomstick handle in a large pot. This last method didn’t work out very well. The bean vines basically just twisted around each other, got very heavy, and weighed down the broomstick handle resulting in a twisted, sprawling mess on the ground. #dnr
I’ve had a raised garden bed system for three years now and each season beans have occupied at least two beds. This year, they are growing in three beds – and for the first time ever – I am growing bush beans, too.
Bush beans don’t climb and don’t need support systems like pole beans do. It’s pretty easy to ascertain that information from their respective names. Kinda like, duh, that’s simple. I like simple.
The type of bush bean I decided to grow this year is a variety called “Red Tail.” I read good things. Other people must’ve read good things, too, because they were on backorder for about a month. Good thing I order my seeds early, like, in February, because what else am I going to do in February in northern Indiana except dream about warmer growing weather whilst perusing seed catalogs and dreaming of bountiful harvests?!
Honestly though, I’m not all that impressed with these beans. Yield has been meh. The flavor is meh. Growing them has been frustrating.
The bugs, however, absolutely LOVE them!!! As you can see from the photo, things are being munchy-munched a bunchy-bunch! Three plants were pulled at the beginning of the season and replaced with direct-sown seeds. I also have to spray the base of the plants with soapy water every-other-day in order to keep the pests away (mainly spider mites and aphids). However, I have been getting beans to harvest. My method has been working and I now have (collectively amongst all of the beds) enough beans to make a side dish for dinner. Yay!
In case you didn’t know, pole beans are climbers! For supports, I reused stalks from the giant sunflowers that grew in this bed last year. In the yard, I allow sunflowers (and other flowers) go to seed, so the local bird population has another option for yummy snackage during the winter. Not every bird can afford to vacay in the tropics during the cold season!
Anyway, I formed a teepee structure, tied the tops together with jute twine, then strung some of that jute horizontally around the supports. You can’t see any of that in this photo, because the pole beans have totally encapsulated the jute string. You’ll just have to believe me.
This old, ahem “dog,” has learned a good trick, though. I learned this trick after the whole broomstick falling over from the weight of the twisting bean vines and sprawling all over the ground fiasco. This trick keeps the vine from falling over and growing back down around itself. Here it is…
When the bean vine gets to the top of the support, just pinch it off. Yup. That’s it. Duh, that’s simple. I like simple.
I hope if you garden that you plant yourself some beans of either variety, bush or pole, in order to enjoy fresh green beans.
I will try bush beans again next year. Perhaps, a different variety and I think I’ll plant them closer together. Right now, though, I’m preferring the pole beans. Some of us just need a pole and a little encouragement, I guess.
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This has bean fun. Until next thyme!
Hodgepodge Gardens 