5/11/2012

Full of beans

26

No reason to not use your best china for everyday events.
This bowl may not look like your typical "fine china" but believe me,
that's what it is around my digs.  


I needed to soak the Borlotti seeds overnight, you see....
since they're hard-shelled and all that...and since one of the raised beds has a new trellis
destined to be filled with beans.

Constructed the  sucker  trellis all by myself.
Sometimes you just have to build something when you don't think you can.

This one is heftier than the first ~ these bamboo poles are a whopping 1.5 inches thick.  Thankfully,
 not the bear I was expecting when it came to assembling...amazingly light, albeit a tad unwieldy...
all eight feet of them.



Borlotti beans are commonly called cranberry beans in the states.  Considered heirlooms,
they came over with the colonists from England around 1825.  The seeds
are red-speckled just like their pods.
Can't wait to see those pods!

Kaite, although you're heading into winter where you are, my growing season is starting
with this bean inspiration from your blog.  Thanks again.




I purchased organic seeds from these great folks
and found a whole bunch of interesting information and yummy sounding recipes over here.

I'm not sure any potter could have created better glazes to show off this bean gathering...



Here's a show off.  She is ALWAYS *full of beans*...'specially if you bring out her friz.
S'cuse the brief digression.  She has that effect on me...pretty much all the time.


Now, I have a question for all you bean-growing peeps who come a'wandering here...
got a minute?


I still have room on the other side of this trellis to sow another variety.  Thought it might be fun to
grow a 2nd, somewhat different type of bean....oooh, but there are so many choices...which one to choose???
I'd be so pleased to have you tell me one of your favorites...send me in a direction, puh-leeez...
shall I go with a yellow wax, some kind of gourmet Frenchie variety, perhaps something with Cherokee ancestry?

There's even a pole bean called 'Lazy Housewife.'
That one seems appropriate.

I've got six and 1/2 feet of space looking for a purpose.

Thank you.


: : :


All photos from my iPhone, processed with ScratchCam



26 comments:

  1. Love that trellis. Perfect, isn't it. I don't know much about beans, though I have been accused at times of having beans in my ears.

    Love the pic of your pooch too.

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  2. what a fabulous trellis. i'm no expert on growing anything. i just dabble. looking forward to seeing the beans climbing.

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    1. Thanks, Deanna...hardly know a thing about growing veg myself...steep learning curve.
      And in this case, the learning curve is vertical, HA!

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  3. Lovely pottery and I love the colors of the beans. However, not knowing beans about beans I can't offer any suggestions.

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    1. I could see a punchneedle piece in those tones of indigo blues and deep purples...YUM ;>]]

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  4. i need to make a serious trellis.

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    1. This one turned out a little more substantial than I imagined.
      Structure in the garden sure feels right...

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  5. wow! you ARE enterprising! I just put my poles into a 4-legged tepee and let'em fight it out for space! then again, that's pretty much my gardening philosophy. lol

    I'm partial to 2-types of beans... scarlet runners and filet ...because:

    Scarlet runners make me happy. I love their bright red flowers. I love that they are not fussy about ANYTHING. I love how humungous the bean pods get. I love the purple'n'black speckled giant beans. I love that it takes next to nothing to save the beans for seed (on my 10th year!)

    Filet because they are tidy and orderly and produce masses of skinny long deliciously tender beans even when they hide from me and I'm a few days late picking them. I love that they are relatively easy to save for seed. I love that they set nitrogen for next year's tomatoes.

    Hope that helps! :)

    ps. I'm a tad jealous that you're already planting beans. Just got my beets'n'carrots in today. My peas are up a couple of inches though. ;)

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    1. We were in for a long-ish warm spell of sunny days so I just went for it. Otherwise, think I'm a tad early. Side TWO will end up being more "on time." Tanks for recommendations, Jen! I'll decide by tonight & let you all know ;>]]
      Having great visions of your bean wars on that teepee!

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  6. Hi Christi, I LOVE your bowl and definately consider it fine china! But then, at my house, you can expect to drink everything from a cheap white mug and I only have 2 dessert spoons! Sorry, I know nothing about growing beans. Goodluck with that! :)
    Hugs Catherine

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    1. Catherine, thank you...and I am most comfortable drinking that way ;>]]

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  7. gorgeous, gorgeous bowl and pup face too!
    I have an heirloom bean seed we grow called "carver beans" dating back to the Civil war here in New England. Perhaps we could barter beans! Otherwise I am fond of "Jade" green beans. different climes, shorter season for us.

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    1. awwww, thanx, Nancy....
      I couldn't find any reference on the internet to "carver beans" except for George Washington Carver soy beans...would love to know more. What are they like? I would DEFINITELY be into bartering ~ let's!

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  8. While I appreciate the hard work on that wonderful trellis, the post spot-light was stolen by pup with friz-face for sure!!!

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    1. She steals it all the time. I let her. I know you understand this predicament full well, as I have seen Pasha *steal* many a post!

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  9. I have no suggestions for your trellis.. just wanted to leave a comment.. neat bowl and pup!

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    1. Thanks for stopping to say "heh" anyway, Donna...appreciate it ;>]]

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  10. Your trellis is fabulous, but i never would have thought of soaking my borlottis, i just plant them in already watered soil and then don't water them for almost a week. Never a problem. For the other side, hmmm, what side is the sun on? for you probably the south side, for us the north. If there's plenty of sun plant the lazy housewife, if not then the scarlet runners will do the trick, they will outgrow anything and peek at the sun over the top.

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    1. I recently read on someone's blog (if you think my soaking is extreme) that she plants her bean seeds - each one - with the "eye" facing directly down. Swears that gives almost 100% germination success. Can you imagine the effort?!
      The trellis runs N-east/S-west so no probs with sun at all, both sides get plenty. I'm sorely tempted to try lazy housewife...or maybe a mix...to entertain my curiosity.

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    2. there's nothing too special about LH bean, it's just a stringless one, while the scarlet runner is very special.

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  11. Wow, now I am inspired! Have you ever tried Hyacinth Beans? The first time I saw them was at Monticello growing in Jefferson's garden (replica) These beans are gorgeous and I am thinking of trying to dye with them just to see what happens. Love this blog.

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    1. hmmmmmm, no I haven't...in fact, hadn't thought of that bean in a long time. A quick Google tells me it's a whopper, which brought to mind a fence in another part of the garden that might enjoy some *ornamental* adornment :>D It's quite stunning, isn't it?! And the dyeing part is certainly tempting. If you do it, you MUST write a post about it!
      Thanks for the tip.

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  12. Love your blog, your garden and your blog dog too!

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    1. Ditto to everything on your blog, Sandy....sooooo pretty over there.
      Many thanks for the kind words, much appreciated.

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  13. So I'm probably a little late, between the gorgeous weather we've had plus a cold I've been a little slow getting around to visit, but my favorite beans are the borlotti for shelling and eating fresh, Island Creek Annie for shelling, and romanos for eating as a green/fresh bean. Love Annelino type beans too. Scarlett runner beans are fun to grow. This year I'm trying two new varities, Rockwell and Lina Cisco's Bird Egg. I love to grow beans. :) I'm planting this weekend. You aren't too far off.

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