Photo by Mary MacTavishAnd I don’t just mean stylish-although of course if you plant PURPLE ones like I do, they are indeed “hip”. That’s me you know, even my vegetables are cool.
I mean that the string bean harvest is ongoing here at the Frugal Upstate household. This year I planted “Purple Podded Stringless Beans” again. These pole beans have a very pretty little purple flower that grows into a truly purple bean! I was disappointed that they turn green when cooked-imagine how pretty they would look on your plate if they stayed the lovely violet color they are when raw.
I absolutely HAD to plant the purple podded beans this year. I had planted them the year before last and Princess just LOVED the flavor. I saved some of my own seeds and then planted them last year. Due to my labeling neglect I replanted the scarlet runner beans and not the purple podded string beans-so last year we had none.
The biggest rule when picking string beans is “Pick well and pick often”. As long as the bean plant is not fulfilling it’s genetic imperative to produce fully sized bean seeds, then it will continue to grow more beans. So if you pick them when they are still tender you will actually increase your harvest.
Bush beans on the other hand have usually been selected for the fact that all the beans become ripe at the same time. If you are running a large farm as a business this is a good thing, or if you just want to be able to take all your pain at once and can/freeze your little heart out.
I personally prefer my harvest to occur over time so I can enjoy all the nice fresh veggies at the table. I don’t get all fancy with my beans-lightly steamed or boiled with a bit of salt and pepper. . .Yum!
If you are looking for some great bean recipes you can check out last week’s “Green Bean Fest” over at Dinner Tonight or Away to Garden. And if you’ve got some great tomato recipes, be sure to participate at either one of those blogs on Thursday!
Yes! Purple-podded “green” beans are one of my favorites, and easier to find among all the green leaves to be sure at picking time. Thanks for joining us for Bean Fest…now where’s your tomato post? (Tee hee. Not due till Thursday.)
The japenese beetles have all but destroyed our 2 Beds of Pole Beans. We will be lucky to get enough dinner!
🙁
Margaret-I agree, they just have a nice flavor and are pretty to boot. And don’t worry, I’ve got a tomato post coming up!
Carolyn-The japanese beetles devoured the wild grape vine in my yard but ignored the beans. I guess they like the grape vine better. You may want to consider the Organic method on this one-plant some grape vine so they can eat their preferred food instead of your beans. . . mine are probably 100 yards apart.