Topic: Unusual beans

[Uncle_Filthster]

I'm on the lookout for some unusually coloured beans to grow as something fun to do and fool the kids into thinking they are magic beans.  Basically, the more colourful and tartrazine/quinoline yellow, blue smartie adhd inducing looking they are, the better!  I have some pea beans to start off and will get some red speckled borlotti/pinto beans but they are the best I can find so far.

Any suggestions?

[mat]

Ying/yang beans are fun - black and white - http://www.marshalls-seeds.co.uk/dwarf-french-bean-yin-yang-seeds-pid1932.html (sold in other places too!) a little different to pea beans, which tend to be slightly redder and not as well marked

anasazi beans... these are as above, but a clear red and white.  you may need to search for these.  I grew some from seed kindly sent to me from someone on A4L many years ago when I had an allotment... unfortuantely I moved, and I am not sure my saved stock is still viable, though i will try some this year.

[grannyjanny]

Is it coloured bean seeds or pods that you're looking for Uncle F?

[Uncle_Filthster]

More the beans themselves rather than the pods, Granny.
A purple/blueish bean would be great if I could find one, rather than just purple pods.

I've seen ying yangs and will check out anasazi

Cheers  :)

[sawfish]

beansandherbs.co.uk has some great ones like Rattlesnake or Birds Egg Horticultural.

[Jeannine]

Blue  and a few more for you


The one I like is the pebble bean

 You can fool the kids by planting them.. they grow all different colours whatever colour they plant..magic!! there are all differnt coloured bean seeds on the same plant

Left to right.. Coco, Jacobs cattle,Dapple, Papa di Rola Pebble

Try               www.uharvest.ca            Ireland Annie for yellow
XX Jeannine

[Jeannine]

Mustn't forget this one Tigers Eye

[grannyjanny]

WOWEE!!!!!!!!!

[Robert_Brenchley]

Trail of Tears for small black beans. Black Magic for big black ones.

[Weed-Digga]

Jeannine, those Tiger's Eye beans are amazing!! Are they climbers? Does anyone know of a suppliers in the UK?

Thanks Weed-Digga

[chriscross1966]

Box is a marroon climbing yin-yang, Egyptian pea-bean is a pinkish climbing yin-yang, needs a longer cooking period than some. My personal faavourites are Giganda, a massive butterbean on a huge climbing plant, Ernie's Big-eye, a big red-white speckled kidney bean with a creamy, almost peanut taste when cooked, very early and dwarf, and Mennonite stripe, big bean in massive pod, early, tastes great, not stunningly productive.....Also have a look at Blue Lake.... best known as a green bean but a fantastically productive as a canellini and they cook quickly too, always a plus in a dried bean.... If   you're UK I can let you have any/all of those for an SAE (big letter), PM me if you want....
I've got Cherokee ToT, Soldier, San Antonio, several Rose beans, yin-yang and Marvel of Venice too....

chrisc

[saddad]

unfortuantely I moved, and I am not sure my saved stock is still viable, though i will try some this year.

Matt.
They are good for five years and even out to 10 you will still get some germination. Like Chris I have a selection of HSL beans too...  :)
They are almost as addictive as tomatoes..  :-X

[aj]

Absolutely - I had 96 types, then after another swap session am definitely over 100 - will have a count once all my sowings have germinated.


Most recent listing is here:
http://linearlegume.blogspot.com/2010/12/bean-project-2010-and-beyond_16.html

Much more addictive than toms; and all mine get saved for the dried beans rather than used as green ones.....

[gwynleg]

I imagine this might be more of a 'recipe' question - but what do you do with the beans? I only really eat the green ones so would be interested to know how people use them (or do you save them for the pretty patterns?!)

[aj]

I imagine this might be more of a 'recipe' question - but what do you do with the beans? I only really eat the green ones so would be interested to know how people use them (or do you save them for the pretty patterns?!)

chilis, stews, curries, beans and rice, soups; anything really....

[Jeannine]

I think most of the ones I mentioned would be available in the UK from other folk, I would pop a request naming a specific one in the swap section also a great many of the US seed suppliers will send to the UK, postage is usually decent . When I lived over there I could get pretty much everything I wanted if I googled a bit and bought where ever I could.

XX Jeannine

[Uncle_Filthster]

Brilliant! Just the kind of thing I've been looking for guys!

Now to find a site that will ship to the UK...

A few seeds would be great Chris, I'll send you a PM  8)


Cheers,
Lee