Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Mexican bean beetles cause lacey patterns in the leaves where they feed and in severe infestations
can even kill plants. Because the beetles overwinter in leafy debris, a tidy garden space with leaf
litter, well-composted in a compost bin, can help break up the lifecycle. Parasitic wasps prey on
these pests. Aphids and red spider mites can cause problems for bean plants as well. In both cases
insecticidal soap sprayed on the leaves can help prevent infestation.
Contender bush bean.
One of my favorite green bean varieties, this bush bean is prolific and
produces early beans for fresh eating.
Jacob's Cattle bean.
This colorful bean is a bush bean that is white and brick red in mottled
splashes. The beans mature to fully dried beans in 100 days.
Montezuma Red.
Also called Mexican Red, this dried bean bush is a sprawling vine with fabulous
production. Beans are deep red and tasty.
Purple-Podded beans.
In my region, these are called purple-hulled peas and the variety we have in
our family is a bush form. There is also a pole form that grows large vines. Both are highly prolific
and good as early snap peas, shelled beans, and dried beans.
These purple-podded pole beans are easy to grow vertically. My in-laws often grow a purple-hulled bush
variety at the ranch to feed both humans and cattle.
(Photo courtesy of Baker Creek Seeds)
Tongue of Fire.
An Italian heirloom with pinto-type beans is a perfect drying bean. Flavorful
when eaten fresh or as dried beans.
Topnot c h .
This bush bean produces tender, yellow pods that are perfect for eating fresh off the
vine.
