Pole Green Bean Recommendations/Request for Recommendations

[roper2008]

I'm going to have to try Fortex one day. The varieties I already ordered for
this summer is Turkey Craw and Zelma Zesta (I think this is similar to Rattlesnake).

[mtbigfish]

Looks like Fortex and Rattlesnake are on my list - does anyone grow yellow snap pole, filet or runner bean -
looking for recommendations for any stringless pole , runner , or filet type bean NO BUSH that are green, red, purple , yellow, blue or any other colors or bi-colored like rattlesnake

Also any that maintain their color after steaming (not boiling in water)
Dennis

[habitat_gardener]

Originally Posted by RiverRat

...Another very good bean is Trionfo de Violetto (or something like that; I don't have the catalogues in front of me.) As the name states, it's purple, but loses its color when blanched. As with Fortex, it has an excellent flavor and also stays stringless even when mature.

I grew two beans from Franchi Sementi last year, including that one. It was good, as was the romano bean (but I love all romano beans), but even better was a French half-runner, La Vigneronne, a few seeds of which I manage to save every year. In 2008 I saved 3 seeds. I don't think I have much more than that this year.

I'm planning to try Rattlesnake this year. Does the source matter much? I saw some on a local seed rack, from either Renee's or Botanical Interests. I also want to try some of the heirloom beans from a Canadian source that were recommended last year, if I ever get around to sending in an order. And I've been meaning to try runner beans, which are supposed to have a perennial root in my climate and thus start producing earlier than annual varieties. I started runner beans the past 2 years, but the snails (or other critters) ate all the bean sprouts before they were a few inches tall.

[puttgirl]

Rattlesnake are pretty good, I grew those and the violetto a couple years back. It was a bad year, though, and I hardly saved any seeds from either. In fact, I don't have any from the violetto! I would like a nice yellow pole bean, too, any suggestions?

[Brightmeadow]

'Garden of Eden' pole bean is the best tasting green bean including the bush beans. IMO. Johnny's has them plus a few Canadian suppliers.

Shirley

[stevenkh1]

As my parents, grandparents are from Braxton/Webster Cos in WVa, I grew up eating, stringing, snapping, canning white half runners. Yeah, they're a pain to string but they have a taste - and class - all their own.

[GIZZARDFARM]

I GROW MCCASLIN AND RATTLESNAKE LOVE THEM BOTH LOVE KENTUCKY WONDERS ALSO.....

[roamwhereiwant2]

I love the Blue Lake poles - white seeded and black seeded. Fortex is wonderful but I think the Blue Lakes are a little better tasting. I wish I could grow Scarlet Emperor runner beans here in Georgia but the climate's all wrong. I really miss the sweet beany taste of runners.

[roper2008]

roamwhereiwant2
Is it to warm in Georgia to grow runner beans in general, or just the Scarlet
Emperor. I live in Virginia, zone 7b-8, and just bought Painted Lady and Sunset
Runner Beans. I bought them mostly for the flowers, but being able to eat
the young beans is a bonus. I hope they grow well for me.

[Brightmeadow]

I think that Runner Beans need cooler overnight temperatures for pollination. So, although they will grow vines in areas that are warm overnight, no bean pods and seeds will form.

Shirley

[mtbigfish]

Runners not good for So Calif then
Dennis

[Brightmeadow]

I used to live in SW Ontario, Canada, and the summers there have hot nights. I would get a few pods per plant that were pollinated but they were hardly worth growing. However, since I have moved to Vancouver Island, British Columbia I get lots of beans. Our summer nights out here are cool. It is very rare to have a hot night. Runner beans grow extremely well in the British Isles and the weather on our island is quite similar to that.

If you occasionally get a summer with cooler nights then it is worth trying some but be ready to be disappointed.

Shirley

[roper2008]

I wish the seed companies would include this information in their
descriptions. If I knew that they do not do well in hot humid areas,
I wouldn't have bought them. In So.California, at least it cools down
some in the evening, so you might have a chance. How about flowers,
can I still get flowers?

[Brightmeadow]

Yes, you will still get flowers so that is a plus. It is just the pollination process that does not do well. Beans self pollinate.

Shirley

[dustdevil]

Roper,

Try Dixie half runner.

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/39686/