Greasy beans

GreenThumbGal_07 · April 20, 2021

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 · April 20, 2021

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 · April 20, 2021

Thanks for the link! Quite a selection there.

GoDawgs · April 21, 2021

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 · April 25, 2021

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 · April 25, 2021

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 · April 25, 2021

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 · April 26, 2021

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 · May 10, 2021

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

GreenThumbGal_07 · May 10, 2021

@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 · May 12, 2021

@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 · May 13, 2021

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenThumbGal_07

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

April 20, 2021	#1
GreenThumbGal_07 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Northern California Posts: 300	Greasy beans 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/).

April 25, 2021	#6
JRinPA Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: SE PA Posts: 972	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. Last edited by JRinPA; April 25, 2021 at 12:26 AM.

April 20, 2021	#2
GoDawgs Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Augusta area, Georgia, 8a/7b Posts: 1,685	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

April 21, 2021	#4
GoDawgs Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Augusta area, Georgia, 8a/7b Posts: 1,685	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.

April 25, 2021	#7
Hensaplenty Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2016 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 122	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.

April 26, 2021	#8
Tormato Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MA Posts: 4,971	I guess I'm the local bean seed collector. PM me a mailing address and I'll send you some greasy bean varieties.

May 10, 2021	#9
GreenThumbGal_07 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Northern California Posts: 300	@Hensaplenty thanks for the ID confirmation! These beans were so delicious. Would a white half runner have specked seeds?

May 12, 2021	#11
Hensaplenty Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2016 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 122	@GreenThumbGal_07, white half runner seeds are white. I do hope you have great success with the Pine Mountain Greasy. They should be delicious!