We have had so little sun this summer. :(
I finally harvested the rest of my pintos. I didn't get much--maybe a cup or so. My fault--I should have put them in a sunnier spot.
Meanwhile, other beans are sprouting up. I think they're the chic peas. I'm really looking forward to eating fresh chic peas for the first time. I'll cross my fingers.
Showing posts with label growing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label growing. Show all posts
Monday, September 13, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Beanstalk update!
I ended up with 3 viable beanstalks. One ended up dying, though I'm not surprised because we had terribly oppressive weather--too much rain and heat.
They've been pretty much care free in this climate because we get plenty of rain. I just check them every few days to make sure they're not leaning on the dirt (so they don't rot) and the vine is going where I want it to (not strangling my strawberry plants).
So now I've got 2 left, and they're already producing beans. I wasn't sure if they were the chic peas or the pintos. Last night I picked the ones that are ready, and it turns out they're pintos. They're a little more mottled than their parents--I wonder if that's a good thing or a bad thing?
Some beans dry on the vine--that's when you know to harvest them. Others you eat fresh, like green beans. Apparently pintos dry on the vine.
I've only got 5 beans so far. Once (if!) I get enough, I'll try making a dish with just the home grown ones to see if there is a difference.
They've been pretty much care free in this climate because we get plenty of rain. I just check them every few days to make sure they're not leaning on the dirt (so they don't rot) and the vine is going where I want it to (not strangling my strawberry plants).
So now I've got 2 left, and they're already producing beans. I wasn't sure if they were the chic peas or the pintos. Last night I picked the ones that are ready, and it turns out they're pintos. They're a little more mottled than their parents--I wonder if that's a good thing or a bad thing?
Some beans dry on the vine--that's when you know to harvest them. Others you eat fresh, like green beans. Apparently pintos dry on the vine.
I've only got 5 beans so far. Once (if!) I get enough, I'll try making a dish with just the home grown ones to see if there is a difference.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Pintos
I couldn't figure out if I had to buy a certain type of seed in order to grow my own beans. Some said yes, others said no.
I couldn't find seeds to my liking, so I decided to try sprouting a few dried pinto beans from the market. I put them in a little soil and covered them with plastic. They sprouted within 24 hours and are now several inches high.
I couldn't find seeds to my liking, so I decided to try sprouting a few dried pinto beans from the market. I put them in a little soil and covered them with plastic. They sprouted within 24 hours and are now several inches high.
Capers
OK, capers aren't technically beans, but they deserve some attention.
Capers grow wild in the Mediterranean in warmer areas. They are a sprawling bush-like plant that prefers to grow between rocks in hot, dry, sunny areas. Like my front porch, where nothing else grows because it's too hot and sunny.
I love capers. If you've never had them, they taste kind of like a cross between green olives and mild green peppercorns. They're great in a salad.
I ordered some seed on the Internet, put them in a zip-sealed bag with a damp paper towel, and set them in a warm, semi-sunny spot. And waited. And waited. And waited.
A few weeks later, they had begun to sprout. I transferred them to a pot with a mixture of organic potting soil and sand, because I figured they'd prefer that--it's closer to the way they grow wild. I added some pebbles on top and put them in the sun.
I had seeds left over, so I put some of my soil-sand mix on top of a few large rocks lying around my yard, surrounded them with a few other rocks to prevent the soil from washing away, planted the seeds, and sheltered it with a flat rock.
I am really hopeful I'll have a few plants this summer. The package says they survive up to -20 degrees F. I'm not sure they'll like my humidity though.
Capers grow wild in the Mediterranean in warmer areas. They are a sprawling bush-like plant that prefers to grow between rocks in hot, dry, sunny areas. Like my front porch, where nothing else grows because it's too hot and sunny.
I love capers. If you've never had them, they taste kind of like a cross between green olives and mild green peppercorns. They're great in a salad.
I ordered some seed on the Internet, put them in a zip-sealed bag with a damp paper towel, and set them in a warm, semi-sunny spot. And waited. And waited. And waited.
A few weeks later, they had begun to sprout. I transferred them to a pot with a mixture of organic potting soil and sand, because I figured they'd prefer that--it's closer to the way they grow wild. I added some pebbles on top and put them in the sun.
I had seeds left over, so I put some of my soil-sand mix on top of a few large rocks lying around my yard, surrounded them with a few other rocks to prevent the soil from washing away, planted the seeds, and sheltered it with a flat rock.
I am really hopeful I'll have a few plants this summer. The package says they survive up to -20 degrees F. I'm not sure they'll like my humidity though.
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