Beans

[Scarlet]

Cluster beans? Where are you getting the seed from?

[bearded bloke]

I'm guessing by cluster beans Elfeda is thinking of round French climbing beans (cobra, blue lake, etc) which grow in clumps rather than in pairs like runners/flat French climbing.

[Elfeda]

Cluster beans botanical name is 'Cyamopsis tetragonoloba'

wiki page: Guar - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

seeds can be bought here tropicalfruitandveg.com | About Guar

[Scarlet]

I looked at those Elfeda... Do you really think they will grow in the UK?

[WendyC]

It's good to try different varieties but if you are an inexperienced grower, and forgive me if I've misunderstood, would you be better growing some tried and trusted varieties suitable for the UK climate? I tried "yard long beans" last year. We had a long growing season but I got nothing from them. I wasn't too bothered as I had runner beans and French beans galore. If they were the only thing I'd tried I would have been disappointed.

[Alison]

I looked at those Elfeda... Do you really think they will grow in the UK?

Looking at them I definitely thnk you'd struggle outside in this country but maybe we'll get a heatwave

[Elfeda]

Looking at them I definitely thnk you'd struggle outside in this country but maybe we'll get a heatwave

just checked it, seems little tricky. still will give a try in small qty, as I wouldn't be spending much if I manage to buy seeds from India.

but they did very well in zone 9

[Kristen]

I tried "yard long beans" last year. We had a long growing season but I got nothing from them

Snap!

I wasn't too bothered as I had runner beans and French beans galore

Snap x 2

If they were the only thing I'd tried I would have been disappointed.

Yeah, you guessed it ... x3

[Scarlet]

I've seen that website before - they say they are a "science project"! I like to grow some different things but it's also good to get some food on your plate too. As Wendy has said, grow some other varieties that have been tried and tested in the UK to avoid disappointment.

[Bohobumble]

wonder how the forum members pick a specific variety of seed ?

Impulse - I see something I like the look of; flavour is a big factor, colour or other interesting feature. Cosse Violette was such an example

Opportunity - opportunity to try a variety that is swapped with friends, or a bit of a bargain. Swift F1 sweetcorn was my first sweetcorn foray and a great success

Disease resistance - if I have encountered a specific problem, I will firstly look to reduce the risk e.g. sowing potatoes earlier to avoid blight, reducing wind exposure, or growing some in a greenhouse etc. but I will consider sowing a variety I've not tried before with decent flavour if it has some to high resistance

[Scarlet]

I am also planning Lablab
I do not have poly tunnel, Should I move it to green house.
How long I can continue harvesting lablab If grown inside green house?

Lablab beans need to be sown early and grown undercover. They have a long growing season and a very short cropping time. Here's a great info sheet on growing them in the UK

http://www.sowingnewseeds.org.uk/pdf...g%20Lablab.pdf

[Kristen]

They have a long growing season and a very short cropping time

They are going to have to taste AMAZING then !!

[sparrow100]

wonder how the forum members pick a specific variety of seed ?

Mostly on flavour & productivity recommendations, but I am also a sucker for a rare variety that needs a home.

If the beans are for shelling I like having beans that will be different in colour - white, black, red, striped, mottled, pied...they will be on my shelf for a few months so I'd like something to feed my eyes too.

[Penellype]

For beans I go for a stringless variety. There is nothing that ruins a nice meal faster than finding your mouth full of tough stringy bits of bean (or any veg for that matter, but beans are a particular culprit).

[Scarlet]

If the beans are for shelling I like having beans that will be different in colour - white, black, red, striped, mottled, pied...they will be on my shelf for a few months so I'd like something to feed my eyes too.

I stopped using brown envelopes to store bean seeds in because I couldn't see the beans and needed to open them just for another look