The last few years we have planted a Blue Lake pole bean. Bobby's not a huge fan because they are very stringy. I like them because the grow upwards, making them easier to pick. The one thing I'm not overly crazy about is they grow all summer but never produce, but start producing in August and will go through the first heavy frost. Last year I was still picking in November. So this year I didn't plant as many, and put them along the back fence of the garden. Above is the vines growing over the edge of the fence.
And here is our surprise. They not only went over the fence, but they connected to one tree limb and have spread out and up throughout the nearest pecan tree. I've actually picked beans out of the tree, and there are many more I simply can't reach!!
And the pecan shells are beginning to open up. My preference is to wait for picking until they hit the ground, as the shells will stain your hands, but if I don't start picking them at this point the squirrels eat them all before I can get to them. This was the first week we had noticed opening, and there were already a pile of hulls at the base of one tree. Since early voting started Thursday, the squirrels might win this year.
Comments