Pole Beans

[Adenn1]

Just curious...what pole beans are being planted this spring. Returning from last year will be Rattlesnake and McCaslan42...and adding Blue Lake and Missouri Wonder.

Also thinking about how I am going to deal with Japanese beetles this year.

Going to can my beans this year...as opposed to freezing them.

[shelleybean]

I'll have McCaslan (just the regular one, not the 42 version), Kentucky Wonder Wax and Carolina butterbeans. I'm looking forward to all three.

[montanamato]

I am trying McCaslan, Emerite, Ram's Horn and Cherokee Cornfield....I have not had good luck at this location with beans, and am going to be putting them in a new place and crosssing my fingers.

Jeanne

[flowerpower]

I am only palnting Kentucky Wonder (green) & Purple Podded Pole Bean. First time growing the purple. I thought htye looked interesting.

[johno]

Kentucky Wonder, McCaslan, Kentucky Wonder Wax, Romano pole, Purple Podded, Rattlesnake...

[shelleybean]

I see several of us are growing McCaslan. Good bean!

[Tormato]

Jeminez
Garrafal Oro
Emerite
Meraviglia Di Venezia


Gary

[Tania]

I grow Rattlesnake, Romano Pole and Blue Lake every year, I really like them.

The new variety for me this year will be Cherokee Trail of Tears from Baker Creek, highly recommended.

I never tried canning beans - does anyone has a good recipe?

[Adenn1]

Tania:

I grew Cherokee Trail of Tears two years ago...a good bean...but I would pick it early for best flavor.

I decided to try canning after I was home this past Christmas and my mother brought out some of her canned beans for dinner...much better flavor and consistency then what I have found when I have frozen beans.

I have to ask her how see does it...I believe she just covers with water, a bit of salt and does a water bath.

I just forgot that I had Ball's Blue Book of preserving here at work...hidden in my desk...I suspect others here have porn stashed...me--I have this and seed catalogs

The note the following for raw pack:

Clean and trim. Pack tighltly into hot jars leaving one inch of head space. Add one teaspoon salt to quart jar (optional). Ladle boiling water over beans leaving one inch of head space. Remove air bubbles. Cap and process quarts for 25 minutes at 10 pounds pressure in steam pressure canner.

I don't have a pressure canner...wonder if you could just do a water bath...I think that's how mom does it????

[shelleybean]

I pulled the last of my radishes today and will be planting McCaslan beans this evening in their place. If you've already planted your pole beans, how are they doing?

[Adenn1]

Putting in my pole beans is on my "to-do" list for the weekend...I made the mistake of putting down some grass clippings already and that has hindered the bed warming up. I may have to wait a week...so much to do...so little time.

[Adenn1]

I had the time...so I put my pole beans in...Rattlesnake, Missouri Wonder, Blue Lake and McCalsan42.

[shelleybean]

And I have the time but not the space...I planted McCaslan last night but have to wait for these onions to finish up before I plant my wax beans (and corn).

[maupin]

I grew Purple Podded last year--Novelty bean, fair (at best) yield. I am just growing Kentucky Wonder stringless pole beans this year. Milky Spore has been extremely helpful in reducing my Japanese beetles. I also feed the grubs to Bubba the wonderdog. He thinks they taste like candy. And the Purple Martin apartments Iput in attract these voracious carnivores to feast on lots of my bugs.

[shelleybean]

I remember several of us planned to grow McCaslan this summer and wanted to see what others thought of it. I really like this bean. It's been stringless, has good flavor and is producing well. I've been picking mine between 5 and 7 inches long. I guess the Japanese beetles liked them too, but I took care of them.