what's your favorite bean?

[mopinko]

we plan to focus on growing beans next year, as our hugelkulture will need the nitrogen for a year or 2. so we are looking for interesting and tasty beans that we can seed save.
will probably do a teenie bit of the three sisters thing and tuck in a couple melons and squash, but to run and shade out the weeds. suggestions for that welcome also.
xposting in gardening.

[Chipper Chat]

1. butter beans

I buy 'Margaret Holmes' brand at Dollar General Store for $1 a can. Delicious!

[Retrograde]

4. Mine rot in the ground, no matter when I plant them. Good luck with borlottis, though

I got the original seeds from Seeds of Italy some years ago. They're reliable in a cool summer climate, they dry on the vine so they're easy to clean and store, and they make delicious pasta fasool and baked beans. The only weird thing about them is that they've gone from being mostly white with red streaks to red with white streaks to mostly white with red streaks again. They're a tall climber, so they'll need some support.

[mopinko]

8. i just heard of seeds of italy today.

this one was on my must have list.

[bench scientist]

2. I like Great Northern Beans.

You can get them from the Vermont Seed Company.
They have many fine varieties of lots of tasty beans!

http://www.vermontbean.com/dc.asp?c1=Beans&c=4

Happy planting!

[pscot]

3. Blue lake is a common, reliable variety

And a great producer. The pole beans give a great yield. Don't plant too early. Plant in stages at 2 week intervals. Check your soil for creepy crawlies, like symphalans. They thrive on high organic content and damage germinating seeds. Good tilth is key to control.

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

5. Cannellini

Because pasta e fagioli is my favorite way to eat beans.

[mopinko]

27. yup.

[Lars39]

6. Not my all-time favorite, but I've grown partial to crowder peas.

They look sorta like black eye peas, but they're sorta purple and taste different.

[mopinko]

9. another on my list, tho

some black eyed peas are also on the list.

[Gormy Cuss]

7. Favas

Last edited Sun Nov 11, 2012, 03:37 PM - Edit history (1)

They are really productive in terms of beans , produce a lot of green mass for composting and fix a reasonable amount of nitrogen. The roots help keep my clay soil friable too. They grow on sturdy relatively tall stalks.

In terms of eating, they're good green or dried.

Here's a site with lots of information on them:

http://www.favas.islandz.info

[mopinko]

10. will look for a high quality type.

big beans seem to make the most sense.

[Ruby Reason]

11. Purple Beans

Like a long green bean, but purple until cooked. Fairly hardy and they have a good taste. I've never seed saved them though.

[Major Nikon]

12. Coffee

I know, it's not really a bean.

[Tab]

13. Cocoa bean

That probably doesn't help you, though.

[Major Nikon]

16. Not a bean either

[cbayer]

14. Lima - I love them and you can almost never get them fresh.

[Horse with no Name]

15. Cranberry Beans.

They have a nutty flavor and go very well with Italian foods.

[becca da bakkah]

17. Why, Mr. Bean...Of Course!

[GoCubsGo]

18. Garbanzo beans.

A.k.a. "chickpeas". There are few things I love more than chickpeas.

[kentauros]

19. And a staple of Indian and Middle Eastern cooking!

Nice to see another fan

[mopinko]

20. love them, too.

they are on the list.

[GoCubsGo]

23. Here's a seed source you might want to check out.

They have a number of interesting bean and pea varieties. Check out both the "vegetables" and "heirloom" lists: http://virtual.clemson.edu/groups/seed/index.htm

'The varieties may change some for next year's season, so you might want to check back every so often. They used to have a variety of cucumber called "Patio Pickle", which was great for container gardening. I hope they bring it back.

[mopinko]

25. wow. thank you.

definitely needs some of those seeds. lynch collection butterbeans.
some crazy stuff there.

[Lucinda]

21. All of them.

I love all things bean-y. They are sooo versatile.
My least favorite is a white northern.

[Goblinmonger]

22. OK, seriously, I can't believe I'm the first

to take the opportunity to say pinto.



I'm here all night, folks.

[pinto]

24. LOL. You beat me to it.

[mopinko]

26. definitely a favorite bean.

[Retrograde]

28. Speaking of Pintos...

Has anyone else had problems with Cadia's Organic Pinto beans lately? They just don't seem to soften, no matter how long I soak and cook them - and I buy at a store that has a fair turnover.