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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2015 1:14:30 GMT
Last year I planted Kentucky Wonder pole beans on a trellis set-up. I fertilized it with triple 10. Had a good crop. This year I switched to Blue Lake pole beans on that trellis. Limed the row good before hand, and put no fertilizer on it until after the seedlings came up. I put it on a 10 day feeding cycle with Miracle Grow. Why? I don't know why. I reckon I just wanted to try something different. All I got is lots of vegetation and plenty of blooms, but when those tiny beans come out of the bloom, they only hand around a day or two and they're gone. Not all of them, but I'd say 60 to 70 percent of them are just not there. I haven't seen any insects, so I haven't used no poison. I planted enough to feed a couple of rabbits for awhile, planted enough to lose some to insects, but dang sho not this much. Next year I'm going back to what I think I know works and this year I'm going to trade some tomaters for the pole beans I want. Has anyone ever had this kind of a problem? There's been a good rain through here enough so that I haven't had to water them but a time or two. Everything else I used Miracle Grow on looks good like cucumbers, peppers, squash and tomaters.
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Post by paquebot on Jun 6, 2015 2:44:22 GMT
I'd have to question why lime was applied. Peas and beans do not like alkaline soil but that should not affect pollination. You don't say where you are located but definitely in a warmer area than here to have mature plants already. Beans are self-pollinating but high temperatures will often cause blossom-drop. What happens is that the pollen melts if too hot. Pod will begin to form but if there are to be no beans in it, it's aborted. Happens with a lot of other vegetables, too.
Martin
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2015 4:53:24 GMT
I usually put some lime out every 2 or 3 years over the whole garden area. This ground is sandy loam, but tends to be more sand than loam in my garden spot. Its hot too, and I think you hit the nail on the head. Between the two, and I reckon it could be both, accounts for them beans going out like they seem to be doing. The kind of bean may play a part too, maybe them Blue Lake beans are a little less able to stand the heat.
Thanks for the information Mr. Martin, I think I got enough to go on so as not to wander off into parts unknown. Only second time I ever planted these beans, but I like them pretty good. And the rest of the garden looks real good, I hope to have it all in the jars or freezer by the end of June. I hope cuase I'd rather be fishing.
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Post by whisperwindkat on Jun 6, 2015 11:44:58 GMT
Don't know where you are, but a southern favorite for generations is rattlesnake pole beans. They seem to tolerate the heat better than many varieties. I have been planting them for years and the only problem I ever had was waiting too late one year and they did not germinate well. But they do produce like gangbusters even in close to 100 degree temps. Blessings, Kat
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Post by Callie on Jun 6, 2015 12:28:21 GMT
I am having a tough time getting my beans to germinate...let alone old enough to pollinate. I'm going to replant again today and see if it's warm enough now.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2015 12:45:43 GMT
I heard of them rattlesnake beans kat, and I'll remember it too when I plant again. Thanks. I'd like to trade you some of this weather around here for a week or two of that cool weather Callie.
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Post by paquebot on Jun 6, 2015 17:21:03 GMT
Germination is where soil pH and lime comes into the picture. Peas and beans germinate slow or poorly in alkaline soil. My community garden plots were at 7.5+ last year and bean germination wasn't 10% while peas were almost zero. Added about a gallon of compost per running foot of row this year. Beans still not much better than 50% but peas maybe 75%. Going to be another year before I can get that soil to where peas and beans like it.
Martin
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Post by Skandi on Jun 6, 2015 19:51:24 GMT
Germination is where soil pH and lime comes into the picture. Peas and beans germinate slow or poorly in alkaline soil. My community garden plots were at 7.5+ last year and bean germination wasn't 10% while peas were almost zero. Added about a gallon of compost per running foot of row this year. Beans still not much better than 50% but peas maybe 75%. Going to be another year before I can get that soil to where peas and beans like it. Martin Hmm I didn't know this.. that explains why one set of peas didn't germinate at all and another type had maybe 30% germination. I reseeded in pots and planted out, they're doing fine now.
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Post by ceresone on Jun 19, 2015 12:55:33 GMT
Fortex is the only one I have planted for years--meets every expectation
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2015 13:51:35 GMT
I needed some advice on jumping off into Blue Lake territory this go 'round. I have over a hundred ft. trellis with good looking plants, with a really decent crop of not-too-mature beans. I was excited about them after I lost some to the rabbits, and then the blooms dropping off due to the heat. Now when I picked a mess 'o beans and cooked them up just to try them out I found out the strings won't come off. They were supposed to be stringless to begin with but I started stringing them cause I found some really healthy looking strings. But boy are they tough, take a bite and chew them up and end up with strings between your teeth. I said okay, I'll try to salvage some by chilling them in the freezer before trying to string them. Better but no cigar, they still too stringy to eat, and I ain't that choosey about stuff like this. I'm going to dry them strings and sell them for shoe laces so I can break even on that row of beans, or maybe let them go and then try to shell them out. Anybody ever done that?
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Post by Melissa on Jun 19, 2015 13:59:00 GMT
I have had mixed results with Blue Lake. You really have to pick them when they are small with virtually no bean inside. I did find some called Tender Lake that were much better.
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