Selecting a Climbing Bean Variety

[@notforwantoftrying1]

You are spoiling us with so many trial videos. It is very rare to see a growing channel that shares NEW research like yours, rather than just rehashing the same topics that have been known about since before our grandparents time.

[@REDGardens]

Thanks! Glad you appreciate them!

[@sportguy-live26]

He's great ..

[@Sambalada28]

i love the testing and trialing that goes into making such great videos. love all your videos

[@REDGardens]

Thank you!

[@psilocyborg6969]

This is my favorite plant related channel :) please keep em coming!

[@spanish_psychonaut]

I love the "no intro" style. Right to the point, not wasting anybody's time but extremely informative. Just perfect.

[@REDGardens]

Thanks! Glad you like them.

[@joebrowning2358]

I truly enjoy how analytical your videos are. There's so many variables involved in growing vegetables. You are so complete in your analysis. Please keep up the great work.

[@REDGardens]

Wow, thank you!

[@TnCountryBoy]

Great comparison video. Thanks for providing the names and you're thoughts.

[@bobaloo2012]

Another great trial. Started a new list of seeds to look for soon to try next year.

[@REDGardens]

🙂

[@noslenarual]

Wow! Your thoroughness is delightful!!! Thanks for the amazing work!

[@Qopzeep]

Really love watching these videos Bruce. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. This year I grew a variety of phaseolus coccineus, which I believe are called runner beans in English. The variety I grew was Prijswinner, from the Netherlands. It stood up to the beating wind from the nearby sea (±5km) without problem and gave very tasty, beany-tasting beans. It also flowers with a gorgeous red flower that attracts many bees. It's still producing, because unlike the vulgaris species, coccineus can withstand cool temperatures, allowing it to be sown earlier (beginning of May for me) and crop for longer (I expect until the first night frost). I mention this because I know you suffer from wind a lot in the garden. This species seems to be very resistent to that, and I've used it as a wind break for other vegetables as well. Win-win!

[@REDGardens]

Yes, runner beans are great. Very productive in the outside gardens, and a more common form of climbing bean around here. They do make a good windbreak!

[@angelad.8944]

I was super lucky to receive some emerite beans years ago and they really are a great all rounder plant. I am not sure how popular they are throughout the rest of Canada though. I'll keep an eye out for the Helda variety. I would like to give them a try. Thank so much for all that hard work. Super interesting! 😊

[@REDGardens]

Those beans are good, I was glad someone sent the variety to me.

[@wonkingmywilly]

this is my first time finding this channel and I'm astounded! I love how thorough you are! definitely subscribing

[@REDGardens]

Thanks! Glad you found my channel!

[@Megan-Yoder]

Very valuable content! I love how detailed you are!

[@REDGardens]

Glad you think so!

[@amrass08]

Another banger-- i've been thinking hard about expanding my bean harvests. Appreciate your reflective videos.

[@REDGardens]

🙂

[@gwenscoble6229]

Living on Anglesey, I too have a windy environment. So often the supports were blown down, or all the leaves blown off the vines that a harvest can not be relied upon. Dwarf French gave a good supply of beans when grown outside, in a trough in a greenhouse, and in the new polytunnel. However, I like the flavour of runner beans so it was one of the reasons I got my polytunnel. My favourite is 'White Lady'. Good flavoured green pods and stringless. Any white beans can be used in soups and cassoulets without giving an unappetising colour that the pink and black speckled ones do. Thanks for another interesting video.

[@REDGardens]

That is interesting, thanks for sharing your experiences. The runner beans definitely seem tastier in the polytunnel, though I haven’t tried the White Lady variety. Sounds interesting.

[@tobruz]

I always grow yellow beans because they are easy to find!

[@REDGardens]

it is a lot easier to find them.

[@andersonomo597]

Same here - and the purple ones are great too!

[@myobmyob2215]

Whatever we find and will grow to maturity, we're adopting those guys.

[@REDGardens]

Good plan.

[@MrRajeshdubb]

All your videos are very helpful. Keep it up Sir 🙏🏻

[@davidford694]

We had Emerite beans for dinner this evening, harvested today, which was October 20th. The quality was almost as good as it was for the first harvest. There are still large numbers of pods on the plants, although sadly many have become over mature. The harvest became simply overwhelming after many pickings.

[@REDGardens]

That is late in the season!

[@ankiolebring8388]

I grow both Neckargold and Brunhilde outside here in Sweden and sometimes I have to replant but in the end it is giving me a decent crop 🙌🏼

[@REDGardens]

Good to know, I definitely want to try them outside.

[@jasonperry6046]

Yet again another video that i am going to go back and take notes. I could watch your videos all day. Because you have me so interested. You make my mind race with wonder. I am definitely going to be doing some comparisons. My thoughts are, how did these compare in the kitchen? Which was your preference there? Are yields the most important factor (for me)? What variety do you think would be most appealing to kids? The one I never thought about till this past year, how much to plant, how much is too much? I didn't have a plan to deal with what was above and beyond my family's needs, and i didn't have a grasp on a per plant level how much to expect.

[@REDGardens]

Ah, thanks! South a lovely comment to receive. I didn’t get a chance to do a proper taste trial, but I did really like the Helda variety.

[@David_Bell_growing]

Useful stuff, as the UK heatwaves caused all the flowers of runner beans to drop off due to excessive overnight temperatures, and the leaves to get frazzled by daytime temps/sunlight. The only runners to produce OK during our heatwave were the climbing french bean/runner bean crosses.

[@REDGardens]

That is interesting that the cross plants did better than the runner beans!

[@David_Bell_growing]

@@REDGardens The French/Runner crosses (same as true French climbers) don't lose their flowers in heatwaves, so I'll be trying some next year, dont want to go without runner beans again.

[@brians1001]

I'm growing outside. This year was very dry and Cobra was slow to fruit. Cobra has been my go to bean for a few years now, but I'd like to try Emerite and Helda now.

[@REDGardens]

One to my plans next year is to see how any of these varieties grow outside.

[@ulrikastrom9709]

At 7:37 the harvetstime diagram you had me! Punched the subscribebutton and looking forward to see past & future videos.😊 You're my kind of farmerguy. Scientific, clear and curious. Well done and thank you! I have tried Cobra three years ago and loved it. Raised bed outside in 2 stacked pallet collar and a 2 m net for climbing (reusing sturdy leftover fence). It actually grow a lot taller. A good yield and nice taste. But now I definitely would try to find som Helda seeds! Maby from a seedsaving community for heirloom lokal old varieties I'm in to. I have to found out your climate compared to mine in Sweden.

[@REDGardens]

Thanks! Glad you appreciate those charts. I am never sure how many people actually get anything out of them. Interesting that we have similar climates. I want to try growing these different beans outside next year.

[@tobruz]

Great video again!

[@REDGardens]

Thanks!

[@OrtoInScatola]

After trying many varieties my go to for flavor and production is the “Meraviglia di Venezia”, a yellow flat variety that cooks really well. I highly recommend it

[@REDGardens]

Ill have to keep an eye out for seeds.

[@OrtoInScatola]

@@REDGardens if you have trouble finding them let me know, I can send you some

[@lkhfun6575]

Thank you! Your trials and information are very valuable for me to plan my new family garden. 🌱🌱❤

[@REDGardens]

🙂

[@jeffwindrim975]

I started a garden this year and I tested 4 different varieties of pole beans 2 of them failed and never grew into anything they were purple and yellow wax beans. I planted rattlesnake beans and they did fantastic and towards mid to late summer I planted another variety for a fall crop and they are doing really well to but the winner for me was the Rattlesnake Beans and that’s what I will be growing next year once I save some seeds. 👍 I was recently out at the garden centre and came across some Snow Peas called Purple Mist they looked interesting so I bought a package of them for a new test next year.

[@REDGardens]

Always cool to test the different varieties! And to keep trying the different ones. A variety I had given up on a while ago is now one of my favourites. Not sure why it did so poorly the first time.

[@jeffwindrim975]

@@REDGardens I’m going to try coco blue next year it looks like a good pole bean.

[@BattlingApathy]

Thanks for another informative video! If you're growing corn/maize anyways, you can find space for Borlottos by interplanting them. I gave up on the "3 sisters" approach for fresh beans, because harvesting was so much extra work, but borlottos work well because they aren't harvested on an ongoing basis. I have been growing brunhilde and neckargold for the past number of years, and their production has always been comparable to the green varieties (neckarkönigin, blue lake) - or rather, differences in productivity were much more influenced by other factors (irrigation, nutrient availability) than by variety. Even if that were not the case, I find that the colour is a quality that I'm willing to take into consideration when comparing value.

[@REDGardens]

I was thinking of doing the three sisters thing with dried beans, as you say it be a lot less harvesting, so less having to get in around the squash and corn. I am hoping that the Brunhild and Neckargold do a lot better when I try them outside.

[@gratituderanch9406]

I’ve grown Helda in Washington State, zone 8b maritime climate. I suppose I always thought we were similar. This trial has made me want to revisit that variety as I have some seed left…

[@REDGardens]

I do like that variety. I think our winters seem to be similar, but you might get warmer summers over there, which would help with the beans.

[@growingstuffs]

I prefer the taste of the flat podded beans too. Hunter is a really good variety. There are some dwarf flat podded varieties too, I'm trying Nassau and Capitano next year.

[@REDGardens]

I haven't tried Hunter, but it seems to be a more common version. I'll have to keep an eye out for those dwarf versions.

[@jeanettebot193]

The Blauhilde doesn’t give a lot of beans at the start, but it keeps this up for several months outside.

[@REDGardens]

That is interesting. Going to try it next year.

[@OrtoInScatola]

Those Borlotti make a wonderful “pasta e fagioli”. Something you have to try

[@REDGardens]

I will have to try that. Thanks for the recommendation.

[@Pixieworksstudio]

I was a bit disapointed with neckar gold, and it was my first time growing it. Borlotti as well was very slow. My most prolific were the purple varities of climbing french bean, but next year I will be planting far more black turtle bean. I just planted and left until they were dry. Pulled out the whole plant, stripped and podded them. I'm pretty sure I will be going back to good old fashioned runners next year like Scarlets. I did end up with too many beans as usual, but I have dehydrated tons, although it was such a tough start. Nothing was growing in spring because, once more, it was too cold and I kept having to replace plants because of the slugs.

[@REDGardens]

Runner beans can be so productive! I am intrigued how the runner beans and French beans will compare outside.

[@Pixieworksstudio]

@@REDGardens Yes that will be really good to see

[@ceedee2570]

Do you think your climate impacted your Borlotti crop? I definitely want to grow it next year because they are delicious. It looks like I should research and increase my planting if they will not have high yields in my climate. Thanks for these comparisons, I really appreciate your approach and reporting on results. Now I want to try Helda in a future growing season.

[@REDGardens]

I don't know. The climate int eh polytunnel is quite warm, and possibly a lot closer to the Italian climate where they came from. Hope the Helda works well for you.

[@ewancarmichael3412]

I let most of my climbing beans go to seed and then put the seeds in soups and stews. Also, I never grow them under glass. I find they grow fine out in the open, even here on the North East Coast of England.

[@REDGardens]

Great to hear that you have had good experience growing them outside. I have tried a few bush varieties outside, which didn't do very well, and wonder how the climbing versions will do next year.

[@Aermydach]

Cheers for the video. One thought I had about borlotti bean yield: maybe the reduced moisture content from drying might skew the yield weight? Another thought: might borlotti be better suited to your simple, bulk garden system?

[@REDGardens]

The pods were weighed when the seeds were full size, before they dried, but the pods were dehydrating, but still a factor. It depends on what you want to eat I think. I wood be interesting to add a dry bean to that garden. I just don't know if any of the varieties will grow well in our climate. Something to test next year.

[@TobyRobb]

Using the bean in the kitchen, I love the pressure cooker. I don't always make them the star of the dish. I often use them sparingly and that tends to work great for me

[@REDGardens]

I want to cook with these kinds of beans a lot more.

[@sportguy-live26]

Doesn't surprise me the romano beans done well if you can source Northeaster or the french haricot seeds I would try them also even though one of your varieties seemed similar as I've noticed they tolerate colder weather better than other varieties..All the best loving these vids and your experiments even though I'm in a different climate you've inspired me to do some comparisons myself .

[@REDGardens]

I will keep an eye out for Northeaster. I want to try them outside, and keen to find varieties that will produce in this climate.

[@sportguy-live26]

@@REDGardens they're useful for colder climates because they have less growing days before they set fruit than most varieties and I just googled Ireland and in summer it should work outside as long as there's no frost as I know frost will kill them if unprotected..I'm an avid gardener but I'm in a completely different climate just googled Ireland and checked out the average temperatures for each season..It's not that easy for you and you're doing amazingly well harvest wise to be honest just as good as us that have favourable condition taste is a different matter don't know if you notice between tunnel and outside. I'm intrigued by your research you're a pioneer which is cool just hard work even though your work doesn't affect me personally I want to thank you for sharing your research and findings I appreciate it as it helps the next generation. All the best I'll be watching..👍

[@yevpt]

This is the trial I was waiting for!! I disagree on the Borlotti as I favour the dry beans to the pods. We use the borlotti beans in many meals (casseroles, risottos). I grow a much of them as possible. With regards to French beans, I’m still looking for the best variety, as straight and thin pods would be the ideal ones for me. So much better than runner beans.

[@REDGardens]

That is cool. I want to start growing more for dry beans.

[@VagabondAnne]

One variety to try is Fortex, possibly as popular as Emerite.

[@klara2548]

Is there any bean variety which you can grow in your conditions outside?

[@REDGardens]

I don't know, but what to try this year.

[@MrCntryjoe]

great video thank you

[@REDGardens]

🙂

[@TobyRobb]

My horticulture science fix for the week !

[@REDGardens]

🙂

[@elsabadenhorst9746]

Wow the best of the best🥀 climing bean vidio.

[@REDGardens]

😊

[@londonorganicgrower8538]

I’m loving watching your channel especially the trials. Where can I buy some Emerite bean seeds from? I’ve started a project to grow food for my local food bank and I need to factor yields into what we grow as the space is small. This seems a great choice for next year. Thank you and keep up the great work. Teresa

[@REDGardens]

A grower in The west coast of North America sent them to me, so I don’t know where they can be put chased. Good luck with your growing project.

[@londonorganicgrower8538]

@@REDGardens would it be possible to buy a few from you and I could save seed from them?

[@traditionalfarmer6299]

how do you get superior seeds....??

[@REDGardens]

grow them myself!

[@traditionalfarmer6299]

@@REDGardens wow...so good, how do you do it...??

[@nasri-mahasneh]

Very nice 🌹

[@REDGardens]

thanks!

[@nitelite78]

Nice experimentation. It's a pity that, as far as I can see, Emerite seeds aren't available to buy in the UK. Emerite also looks slightly thinner/straighter than Cobra which I think are desirable traits.

[@REDGardens]

Cobra or Fasold are pretty close to Emerite. Someone sent em a package of Emerite seeds from the West Coast of North America.

[@Growmap]

With the problems with seeds in the past two years, I'd grow all three of the top choices. That way you insulate yourself from a potential failure of any one variety.

[@REDGardens]

Yeah, diversity and redundancy is a good plan.

[@kubaistube]

Seems that Emierite are only sold in US and Canada, is it where you got the seeds from?

[@REDGardens]

Another grower in West Coast North America.

[@ColoradoTodd]

I enjoyed the novelty of growing dried beans, but now I only do that if there's a special variety I can't buy in bulk. Otherwise, the cost of growing them far outweighs the price when you just buy them in bulk, and that's ignoring the effort required to harvest and winnow.

[@REDGardens]

That is what I have been thinking, but want to try next year to see.

[@AtheistEve]

I’ve come to that conclusion, too. But I want to keep a veg garden (and the skills to tend one) - as back up.

[@ColoradoTodd]

@@AtheistEve Totally. I love vegetable gardening and wouldn't give it up! I just have been more choosy lately about what I grow, in attempt to have the garden fund itself and maybe even save us money. So for me, green beans are in and dried beans are out, except for a couple of varieties that I can't buy at the store.

[@lettucesalad3560]

I suggest trying Red Noodle beans - they're not as productive, but the flavor is nutty and very different.

[@VagabondAnne]

I think those might not grow as well in Ireland - they are technically cowpeas which like rather more heat (I have trouble growing them in mild northern California).

[@REDGardens]

Sounds interesting.

[@jamesdonald7485]

Shiny Fardenlosa???

[@Dabini_1]

You can grow in pot right .

[@REDGardens]

I haven't tried, but probably.

[@paulinelarson465]

Will the saved seeds grow true or have they been further hybridized by close proximity to the other varieties ? I assume they are all hybrids.

[@REDGardens]

Apparently with this species of bean, the flowers are all self pollinating as the flower opens, so cross pollination is very rare. And this only happens with insects, and I did not notice any bees at these flowers (they were all interested in the courgette and other flowers). So I think cross pollination in this case is not likely.

[@gailthornbury291]

assuming you sell your produce. The purple and yellow beans might increase the value/ price of the beans and so from a commercial point of view might be worth the lower yield? I grow both yellow and purple for home consumption just for the visual appeal. But of course I’m not growing on anything like your scale.

[@REDGardens]

That is a good point. I do sell the surplus vegetables, but at an honesty stand, so I unfortunately don't get any real feedback.

[@teatimetraveller]

where do you get emerite from? never come across it before.

[@REDGardens]

A grower in the West Coast of North America sent them to me.

[@dfbess]

wouldn't the dry beans be better for winter usage? fresh green beans are great during growing season in the summer but dry beans are good during winter..

[@REDGardens]

They would be better for winter use, though in our rainy climate I’m not sure how well they would dry. We blanch and freeze a lot of green beans, which see us through the winter.

[@artandmore575]

Hey man!!! it's just my curiosity.... you actually are in Ireland , aren't You ? , but if I don't watch and just listen , I hear somebody from NY or W dc.. or .....you know. Great update from your work !!!

[@REDGardens]

Makes sense. I am originally from Canada, not so far away from East coast USA.

[@sagopalm279]

Luv me beans Simple as

[@REDGardens]

🙂

[@theonh9365]

Anyone knows which one tastes more like Mexican black beans(bush turtle beans)?? I d like to dry them and use them in mexican cusine. Those three greens look like black beans but do they taste the same??

[@simonjack8122]

Are the Borlotto pods also edible as well as the beans?

[@REDGardens]

I haven't eaten them, as they tend to be leathery and tough.

[@simonjack8122]

@@REDGardens sounds like they're only good for feeding to animals or fixing nitrogen

[@REDGardens]

@@simonjack8122 The beans inside are delicious.

[@simonjack8122]

@@REDGardens so leathery and tough but also delicious😊

[@fpsninja1]

How do you find runner beans vs French climbing beans? This year I reduced my runner beans planting to stick some climbing French beans for thr first time and didn't get a single French bean, but my beans in general did badly due to the very dry weather we had

[@REDGardens]

The runner beans can be more productive outside than the French beans are inside the polytunnel, but I haven't done a side by side trial yet.

[@fpsninja1]

@@REDGardens ah I don't have a polytunnel. Is it not worth trying climbing beans then (based in Midlands uk)

[@emmalouie1663]

flavor though?

[@AtheistEve]

Have you tried growing chickpeas?

[@REDGardens]

I haven't yet.

[@MrMoekanz]

Im struggling to find Emerite variety except from the UK. Do you have a source for them? thanks!

[@REDGardens]

I got them from a grower in the west coast of North America.

[@MrMoekanz]

@@REDGardens ah ! maybe I will have to get some sent over from the states son and build up the seed supplies from there- unless you are selling some?

[@maxgator260]

Dried Beans give much less yield but you can store them for years without any input.

[@AtheistEve]

But you can buy dried beans/pulses pretty cheaply anyway. Sometimes I think that it would be better to turn over my whole veg garden to just high value fresh produce. I don’t know, asparagus? truffles? 🤔

[@REDGardens]

That balance between ease, yield and high value, is an interesting one.

[@Lsmith-ly2cm]

Where do you live ?Just wonder about your climate. thank you

[@REDGardens]

Ireland. A cool, maritime climate.

[@xaviercruz4763]

4:36 proves God was the first to create digital camo

[@REDGardens]

Proves that plant breeders are very good at selecting for interesting traits.

[@abdulhadizakkour507]

Why not compare plants by amount of calories produced per plant or m²? I know that it won't always be good to use calories (it's not fair for leafy vegetables, herbs, cucumbers, etc) but for things like bean pods Vs bean seeds I think it can help us understand the difference in yield better than judging by weight. After all the main purpose of plants is to help us put the energy they collect from the sun in our bodies.

[@REDGardens]

That kind of analysis would be interesting. A key issue is that I cannot determine the calories in any crop or variety, and would have to rely on the ‘typical calories’ that is determined from conventional food, so no way of accounting for vegetables or seeds from different varieties or of much higher quality. I generally see vegetables as mor of a way to get the complexity of vitamins and minerals and lots of other good stuff, and rely on other types of food (grain, meat, etc.) for the calories. The energy the vegetables collect is great, but not the main reason for eating vegetables.

[@billastell3753]

For what it's worth Bruce, beans are bad for saving if you grow more than one variety near each other. They cross breed and the next generation will be a mixed batch and undependable. I discovered this several years ago and lost an outstanding cultivar of green climbers through cross breeding with a bush bean variety.

[@REDGardens]

That is interesting. Most info I have read claims that they generally aren't cross pollinated.

[@billastell3753]

@@REDGardens I grew blue lake pole beans for 4 years from saved seeds each year. Always consistent quality. Then I grew a row of yellow bush beans beside them one year. The following year I only grew the seed saved from the pole beans and I got a few yellow pole and several green pole type that were not typical of the blue lake. I ended up throwing the seed away as they were not up to the quality of my original pole beans. I haven't done any research to see what science says but I only save seed from isolated bean varieties now. Tomatoes I have found to be less sensitive to pollinating from nearby varieties though a bit of crossing occurs. Peppers are about the same as tomatoes. This has been my unscientific experience. I am still learning though.

[@REDGardens]

@@billastell3753 That is interesting and a valuable anecdote. Definitely something to watch out for. Thanks.

[@leontienfrieldarrell2032]

First

[@REDGardens]

Sixth!

[@leontienfrieldarrell2032]

@@REDGardens actually 8th but whatevz

[@sagopalm279]

that would be me sir

[@REDGardens]

@@sagopalm279 i obviously can’t count!

[@sagopalm279]

@@REDGardens with all the trials you've been doing must be burnt out on numbers

[@glennsworldoffun]

Translate English to Filipino - Banette🇬🇧 ➡️ 🇵🇭 Bataw

[@ripaklaus764]

1rd :) woo New vid

[@REDGardens]

🙂

[@f3n1xplat3ad0]

.

[@REDGardens]

🙂

[@f3n1xplat3ad0]

@@REDGardens that little dot (.) Is a seed. I hope it helps the YT algorithm. I love your content, but not always have a comment to leave. So, I leave a ( . )

[@REDGardens]

@@f3n1xplat3ad0 I figured that! Thanks!