Had some friends over that grow only bush beans.
They were commenting on how the pole beans taste better than bush.
I agree.

And pole beans are so much easier to pick when one has a bad back!

And they are clean! My bush bean pods tend to rot where they touch my clay soil, and I have a lot more issues with them. The pole beans benefit from much better airflow. If you want to see aggressive growth - try pole limas! :lol:

[QUOTE=PhilaGardener;662277]And they are clean! My bush bean pods tend to rot where they touch my clay soil, and I have a lot more issues with them. The pole beans benefit from much better airflow. If you want to see aggressive growth - try pole limas! :lol:[/QUOTE]

What variety would you recommend?

[QUOTE]and one other great little bean I can't recall the name of - spanish girl name, the dried beans are a beautiful white to black fade. [/QUOTE]Looked at them today and instantly remembered, Juanita Smith! Nice beans.

For Limas, my best crop was from Violet's Multicolor Butterbeans a few years back. I tend to grow out one variety a year to keep it pure. Right now, my Willowleaf limas are full of buds but very few pods set yet. It usually isn't until September that they start doing so. Race to the first hard frost - we are at 62F this morning - very cool for the end of August!

[QUOTE=efisakov;662421]What variety would you recommend?[/QUOTE]
Limas prefer long, warm summers. In areas where the climate is cooler, or the season shorter, Sieva (a.k.a. Carolina) might be the best bet for a pole variety. There is a Red Carolina too, both have a short DTM, and are highly productive.

If you start limas indoors in pots, more flexibility in the choice of varieties is possible. Germination is improved, and seedlings are more tolerant of cool and/or wet soil than the same seeds direct sown.

[QUOTE=PhilaGardener;662484]For Limas, my best crop was from Violet's Multicolor Butterbeans a few years back. I tend to grow out one variety a year to keep it pure. Right now, my Willowleaf limas are full of buds but very few pods set yet. It usually isn't until September that they start doing so. Race to the first hard frost - we are at 62F this morning - very cool for the end of August![/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Zeedman;662632]Limas prefer long, warm summers. In areas where the climate is cooler, or the season shorter, Sieva (a.k.a. Carolina) might be the best bet for a pole variety. There is a Red Carolina too, both have a short DTM, and are highly productive.

If you start limas indoors in pots, more flexibility in the choice of varieties is possible. Germination is improved, and seedlings are more tolerant of cool and/or wet soil than the same seeds direct sown.[/QUOTE]

Thanks. Plus it will help with slugs. They are a big problem in my garden, besides squirrels. :no: This year slugs are getting inside my peppers. Never before I have witness anything like that.

I am excited about growing new varieties. Appreciate all the suggestions.

[QUOTE=Zeedman;662632]Limas prefer long, warm summers.[/QUOTE]

In my garden they grow OK in the hot, long days of summer but pod set is very spotty until our weather cools off a bit (and the days are getting shorter). Lots of aborted blossoms (despite ok numbers of pollinators working the blooms). The heat and humidity of the East Coast gets to all of us! :twisted:

I prefer the taste of pole beans especially when canning. My favorite is white half runner. I have some pink tip greasy beans I'm dying to try, but lost my garden space for beans when we moved.

We were totally disappointed last month in our first bean canning attempt. Bush filet beans that taste amazing fresh (velour) are absolutely average pressure canned as cut green beans. Moderately better than store canned. That would be great if pole beans are better.

Can anyone give me information on a romano-type pole bean named 'Berta Teleska'? I received a few seeds in Nicky's swap and have just started harvesting them in the past week. Very nice beans, but I sowed all that were received. I will of course save seed, but unfortunately they were grown in close proximity to some Liberty, Juanita Smith (yes, JR - nice beans) and another romano and I am afraid they might have been indiscreet...

[QUOTE=Hensaplenty;663324]I prefer the taste of pole beans especially when canning. My favorite is white half runner. I have some pink tip greasy beans I'm dying to try, but lost my garden space for beans when we moved.[/QUOTE]

Never tried canning beans. My mom was canning plenty: tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage, peppers, eggplants (stuffed fermented, fried, or sauce), fried or pickled mushrooms, spicy sauces, jam or compote of apricots, cherries, strawberries, raspberries, plums, and many more types of berries.
I only know that green beans can be frozen.

[QUOTE=efisakov;663338]
[COLOR=Red]I only know that green beans can be frozen.[/COLOR][/QUOTE]

Then what is that stuff in the store that looks like frozen green beans?
You know the green beans people buy and try to steam like fresh green beans only to have them come out like rubber.:lol:

Nothing good happens when you freeze a bean.