climbers as opposed to bush beans

[manicscousers]

 yes, I know it's early
thanks to dadnlad for the climbing barlottos, they'll come in very handy
we grew 6 bush beans this year, got maybe half a pound dried, mainly because of slug damage, will we get a better harvest by growing the climbers or do I need to plant more ?  ???

[manicscousers]

[Larkspur]

The projected yield from climbers is about half as much again as bush beans.

[gecko]

We grew climbers for the first time this year, Cherokee Trail of Tears. They were fantastic! Really heavy cropping, and were still cropping into October.

Grew them in the same bed as some bush beans and they survived the slugs whereas the bush ones were decimated (bad year for slugs for me  :-[ )

Highly recommended.

[saddad]

I have put Trail of Tears on my HSL wish list but not in the top 6 so unlikely to get them.... has anybody seen them commercially? Always grow climbers, as they add interest to the plot being tall and floriferous...
8)

[Robert_Brenchley]

I always grow climbers as they take up less space, and I grow squash underneath.

[Barnowl]

These chaps sell Cherokee Trail of Tears. Found the site too late  - already have six varieties to try out next year - hope it's of use to you.

http://www.realseeds.co.uk/beans.html

[Curryandchips]

Same here ... reminder to self - need more canes ...

Several varieties this year, including runner beans purely as shelling beans (thanks jennym for the suggestion). Never seem to have enough beans, the borlotti beans never even make it into storage ...

[saddad]

Thanks Barnowl... knew I'd seen them in one of the cats!
::)
On the canes idea I am trying to convince the committee to coppice some hazel for withies, in place of bamboo canes, in our wild life area.
???

[Robert_Brenchley]

A lot of people seem to like Trail of Tears; what are they like?

[manicscousers]

we've just planted a hazel bush on the plot, have one at home for the nuts, found one growing next to it so transplanted it for twigs and canes, work really well. so, I might plant another couple of beans,  :)

[cmorningstar]

I grew the Trail of Tears beans last year and they were fantastic.  They come out as a sort of mottled green bean;  some are completely green and some have distinctive purple and brown markings.  They are very attractive looking beans. 

Can't comment on their use as a soup bean, though they are frequently used this way in the US.  None of mine made it to storage unfortunately!  I'm planning to grow twice as many next year to save some for shelling.  They were prolific croppers and I'd highly recommend them.  Bought them from Real Seeds - a great seed company (found out about them from this website).

[Robert_Brenchley]

I must try growing beans for shelling; Namissa would rather buy imports from Tesco than use the ones I grow!

[supersprout]

The projected yield from climbers is about half as much again as bush beans.

This year we got 1kg/m2 from bush beans. Climbers do yield more, but they're more faff building a rig and harvesting. Bush beans are a doddle - when they start to die back, cut off at ground level (leaving in the nitrogenny roots) and hang on a washing line in the g'house to dry. I have plenty of space, so going to grow dwarf Borlotti (Lamon) only.

The Gigantes from Greece turned out to be climbers - because of their size, they are easy to harvest :)

[manicscousers]

it's the slugs that bother our bush beans, and snails, lots of the pods had holes in, so, will try both types this year. :)

[angle shades]

:)

CTOT, best climbing bean IMHO/shades x

[saddad]

Right then... I'm definitely going to order some... I'll do it now!
8)
Sorted, and bought some Oca and a Buttercup squash as well... even managed to get my Paypal account to work!
;D

[Deb P]

Right then... I'm definitely going to order some... I'll do it now!
8)
Sorted, and bought some Oca and a Buttercup squash as well... even managed to get my Paypal account to work!
;D

I've got some of their 'Cupidon' beans from my order , you can try some of those too if you like?

[saddad]

Thanks if I can find space! A real incentive to get to the back of those bottom plots! Alison was sulking about how tidy yours was when we went past yesterday!
;D

[Deb P]

LOL! :)
It's tidy because its my only one, and there's not a lot in it yet!!!

Can't wait to get growing now, and there my new muck pile to sort.....

I'm going to drag my parents down to the plot on Christmas day when they drive up from 'dahn sowf'; they have heard so much about it, and seen emailed photos of its progress as it's been cleared, I hope they aren't disappointed when they see it 'in the flesh'!