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yard long beans
Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 9:13 pm
by mandylew
has anybody grown these, i just picked up a packet today in the t&m italian collection, it says they are not a true bean and can be eaten raw, grows to 1.8m slim pods up to 45cm long i'm intruiged, but dont want a big disappointmwent, last year i grew cherokee trail of tears thinking they would be a fantastic crop, and they were just imo like any other climbing bean
mandy
Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 10:20 pm
by alan refail
Sorry to disappoint - probably.
I have grown yard-long beans several times, without much success. They are a semi-tropical plant and will not grow outdoors here. They need a greenhouse or polytunnel, and even then they struggle. They need something to climb and if you get beans they are tasteless. I have eaten them in tropical places where they grow like weeds and they were delicious. But T&M should be shot if they don't point out that at the very least Italian temperatures are needed to get any worthwhile crop. See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vigna_ungu ... quipedalis
If I were you I'd stick to climbing French Beans. Trail of Tears are delicious eaten young, but soon go stringy. By the way what made you think Trail of Tears would be any different from other French Beans?
Cofion gorau - Regards
Alan
Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 7:41 am
by Jenny Green
If these are the same thing as snake beans, then I've tried them but agree with Alan - not worth the effort. They struggled in my unheated greenhouse. I don't think they even flowered.
Often if something isn't widely grown it's for a good reason.
Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 8:05 am
by Chantal
Well this would explain why my effort didn't get more than a yard off the floor and managed a few flowers but no beans. I thought I'd done something wrong.
Mandylew, I wouldn't bother if I were you.
Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 9:22 am
by alan refail
Jenny and Chantal
Typical experience with Yard-long/Snake beans
We agree, I think - Don't bother with them.
Alan
Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 7:34 pm
by mandylew
Thanks for that, i think i'll send them to t&m and ask for something that will grow, If they dont do well in other parts of the country, ive no chance in tyne and wear!
Mandy
Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 7:44 pm
by Jenny Green
Shame really. They're nice to eat if grown in a hot country.
Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 10:52 pm
by Tigger
I'm going to try them this year, but it's not looking promising!!!????!!!!!
Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 6:49 am
by alan refail
Brave
Tigger
Pray for a hot year.
Alan