Commiserate with me.
I have just set out some 43 different varieties of beans - crowders, runners and french, both bush and climbers.
Yay, I have even experimented with some 13 different types of crowders, here in England's Zone 8. Though I
set my most hopes on Whipporwhill crowders, which are said to resist even England's gloom and damp.
(If you're US-based and are not familar with the European term 'french' beans - I'll just say, they're all Phaseolus vulgaris, as opposed to Phaseolus coccineus - runners. Or Vigna unguicalata - crowder or cow peas. These distinctions are important, because Phaseolus vulgaris or Vigna unguicalata don't cross-pollinate much with each other. Whereas P. coccineus cross-pollinates like a drunken sailor on shore leave in Marseille.)
Question: I am a bean fanatic.
Are any other members of this forum also bean fanatics?
If so, is it worth setting up a bean forum? So much joy and misery do I have to share with you! And don't you!
Tell me!
JOHN YEOMAN
Beans - let's start a new thread
I'm a bean lover too John. You'll probably drum up a lot more interest on the Heirlooms or Vegetables board tho. 43 varieties??? whew!!
Chris
John,
I had sent up a trial baloon on this idea a few months ago, but there didn't seem to be enough interest.
I found that strange, because beans are the number two garden crop in the world (right after tomatoes), and everybody seems to grow them.
Consensus was to leave it as part of the heirlooms forum. I would guess that the new vegetable growing forum will see some bean action, too.
I support a bean thread. Not all interesting beans are heirlooms so they don't belong in that thread. After all, there is a tomato thread and beans are just as interesting and sooooo many varieties. Perhaps it could be a legumes thread and include peas as well.
That's what I'd had in mind, gerddi; a legumes forum in which beans, garden peas, cowpeas, etc. could be discussed by folks with a common interest in them.
I found it odd that there was little interest in a forum. When I conducted the beans round robin there was big interest, and, it seemed, great passion. Bean folks are at least as passionate as tomato folks.
What's more, I think bean people have more to discuss without repeating the same threads over and over again.
Usually if as few as five people express interest Dave will try a new forum (that's how we got the vegetable growing one started). Maybe the same will apply here?
Well, Brook, we've got four bean afficionados already. Anyone care to lob in their support, so we have a quorum?
Incidentally, Brook, thanks again for those wondrous beans. Your New Mexican Cave bean is twining all around my little daughter's play shed as I write.
I might have at end-year some of the Pharoah's Pea - allegedly found in Tutankhamen's tomb by Lord Carnarvon.
Hm, would mailing you a cursed pea breach US phytosanitation laws? Perhaps I could send it marked as an archeological specimen...
John
>Perhaps I could send it marked as an archeological specimen... <
Oh, Lord, that would be worse. All kinds of flags go off re: archeological specimens do to the widespread "looting national treasures" noise so many countries make.
But, hey, I don't have to teach you smuggling tricks. If you can't figure them out for yourself, just hie yourself down to Cornwall and talk to some of the folks there. :-)
BTW, is that a garden pea or a cowpea?
Ya know, folks, this discussion may be in the wrong place. I'm going to post notices over at the veggie growing and heirlooms forums for bean lovers to come look at it. Maybe then we'll generate enough interest, and can talk Dave into a new forum.
I'm in!
My beans have just made it into the ground this year,but maybe I'll have some input for the new forum.
Here's the list that actually got planted.
Whippoorwill Cowpeas
Blue Goose Cowpeas..planted in 'hills' so I can stick them like pole beans. I know that's odd for a cowpea,but these put out 7 foot runners last year that I wasn't prepared for.
Texas Cream 40 Cowpeas
Bregala's Romano Pole Bean
Sonoran Gold Tepary Bean
Hopi Yellow Lima
My vote is for a bean forum.Hopefully it will get some people talking instead of lurking.
Well, that's five people interested. Five is the number Dave usually uses, so just maybe.....
Ho, Dave... are you listening?
Uh, what is the protocol for requesting a new forum here?
Do we send flowers to Dave? Or just promise not to mail him nematodes?
Incidentally, Brook, my Pharoah's pea is not a crowder and not a bean - it is a verifiable Pisum Sativum. And 'tis tickling my ear as I write.
Hm, Melody, let's exchange crowders next year. I've sown all my 'bush' crowders without trellises - now you tell me they're going to grow like telegraph poles?
Oh, well, not for nothing have I stolen all my neighbours' washing lines...
John
>I've sown all my 'bush' crowders without trellises - now you tell me they're going to grow like telegraph poles? <
You misunderstand, John.
Melody was talking specifically about the Blue Goose, which is one of the most rampant of the cowpeas. Rouge et Noir runs them a close second. With varieties like that you begin to understand why they were always grown as field crops rather than garden crops.
On the other hand, there are many that are pure bush types, and some with short runners. Whippoorwill, for instance, puts out a runner only about two feet or so. And California #5 black eyed peas are strickly bush league (in more ways than one, btw).
As to the other, I've written Dave and asked him to consider this. No answer yet; but I bet that's because he's out in the garden. We'll hear from him soon enough, I'm sure.
John,
include me as an advocate for a bean forum. I’m growing 28 varieties this year.
BTW, just read an article on edamame soybeans in the June/July Mother Earth News Magazine. So naturally, they are a must for next year.
Brook, really enjoyed both of your articles. Seems as though MEN is devoting more space to vegetable gardening with each issue.
Gary
Well, Gary, vegetable gardening is all part of living wisely with the land---which is the mandate they've returned to. Plus the summer issues would naturally carry more growing articles.
Glad you enjoyed my two pieces.
Okay, after all this time, I'm finally caving in to the membership. :) The forum is created. http://davesgarden.com/forums/legumes.html
I'm a huge fan of beans, btw, and I'm looking forward to seeing some active discussion of one of my favorite plants for the garden.
dave