Greasy beans

[GreenThumbGal_07]

Quite a while back, there was a local restaurant that served green beans that I absolutely loved. These were not standard "string" green beans such as you might find canned or frozen, but these had full pods with beans inside that were speckled. The flavor was beany and nutty and creamy all at once. They were satisfying and delicious.



I've never found a bean like that since, though I have been poring over the seed catalogs trying to find it.


Something called the "greasy" (smooth podded) pole bean looks sort of like it. At any rate, I might try it this year. Variety is Pine Mountain Greasy and the seed source was Sustainable Mountain Agriculture Center Inc. (https://www.heirlooms.org/).

[GoDawgs]

You can try Appalachian Heirloom Beans. They have the biggest listing of greasy and other beans I've ever seen.

https://www.wrightsdaylily.com/beans.html

[GreenThumbGal_07]

Thanks for the link! Quite a selection there.

[GoDawgs]

Yeah, but the prices are way more than I'd ever consider unless I was a bean variety collector and would be saving the seed. $6 a pack? No thanks. Bean seed is hard to collect here as bean beetles ruin so many as they're drying down or seeds rot in the pods. The only one I've been successful with is Cherokee Trail Of Tears. For some reason the beetles leave that one alone during the drying stage. Go figure.

[JRinPA]

I recall rattlesnake pole beans as probably the most flavorful that I grew. The problem was, if I missed picking in time, the pods got too fibrous for frying whole. And I had them all the way in the back. I'm pretty they weren't considered a greasy.



I grow mostly filet style now, fortex etc, and they are good and have a long window to pick. But I admit rattlesnake were excellent tasting.

[JRinPA]

Ah those bean towers in that link's photos.
Designer bean seed: $6

Falling 12 ft and breaking your back while picking them: priceless.


Edit to add, you should put a want ad on here for rattlesnake. I got some in the swap about 5 years back or so, so someone here has some. I didn't save any that I recall, because that year I grew too many, too close, and I couldn't tell one kind from the other by September when there were dried ones.

[Hensaplenty]

You also may have been served a white half runner. These are my favorite green bean for all the reasons you listed! Yes, they have strings and are more work to process but worth it to me.
I also enjoy the rattlesnake bean, too. Many of the commercial white half runners have been corrupted and are now tough. I don't recommend ordering those from the big seed companies. The old fashioned white half runners are hard to find. Bill Best has been collecting/growing these for years. https://www.heirlooms.org
His beans are also $6 a pack. I'm trying two new ones this year. So far I have been able to save seeds on beans where I garden but the bug load can be pretty bad here, too. Good luck on your quest.

[Tormato]

I guess I'm the local bean seed collector. PM me a mailing address and I'll send you some greasy bean varieties.

[GreenThumbGal_07]

@Hensaplenty thanks for the ID confirmation! These beans were so delicious. Would a white half runner have specked seeds?

[GreenThumbGal_07]

@Tormato and Hensaplenty: I did buy from heirlooms.org, variety was Pine Mountain Greasy (yes, seeds are speckled) and they went in the ground today. So we shall see!
@Tormato, thank you kindly for the offer, let me know if you are interested in a swap.

[Hensaplenty]

@GreenThumbGal_07, white half runner seeds are white. I do hope you have great success with the Pine Mountain Greasy. They should be delicious!

[PhilaGardener]

Originally Posted by GreenThumbGal_07

@Tormato, thank you kindly for the offer, let me know if you are interested in a swap.