The old grey matter has been struggling this week trying to solve a mystery. I'm now well into French bean harvesting and consumption. What I am unable to fathom is the different growing patterns of the beans. I planted a trio of climbing beans at the allotment this year. The 'Borlotti' turned out to be a non climber so I will leave them out of the equation. The others are old favourites, the green 'Cobra' and 'Blauhilde' which has purple pods which turn slowly green as the water in the pan comes to boiling point. Great fun to watch.
The beans were both sown on the same day. 'Cobra' was the first to produce beans where they appeared from the bottom of the plants upwards, whilst 'Blauhilde' was about ten days behind and has been cropping from the top of the plants downwards. Now I wonder why that should be and whether it is a regular happening or just a one off. I will have to wait a whole year before I can put this to the test but perhaps somebody out there might have a scientific explanation as to this particular phenomenon.
Meanwhile if you are wondering why there is a photograph of some sweet peas accompanying this post it's because I do not have any to illustrate my point :) However my sweet peas are giving me great pleasure this year. The above bunch was picked earlier this week after cutting some for my allotment plot neighbour. They were the biggest bunch I have possibly ever picked on a single day so I thought that they deserved a special mention. Another option would be to post without a photo but more on this subject later this week.
I'll have to go and examine my beans tomorrow to see where they crop from! My borlotti are climbing and always have in the past too, different varation from yours I guess!
ReplyDeleteI have grown Blauhide for the first time this year and now you have mentioned it mine are cropping from the top
ReplyDeleteThe fragrance from those sweet pea blooms must be heavenly!
ReplyDeleteI can't say I've ever noticed the cropping pattern of my beans. The sweet peas are a gorgeous colour, your house must be scented beautifully from them.
ReplyDeleteIt's strange what you notice when you have more time for observation, isn't it? My Cobra are producing from the bottom up too. The sweet peas must smell lovely. I have some 'knee high' ones in pots near the back door where I get the occasional whiff, but they haven't actually flowered very well although the plants are healthier than any sweet peas I have grown before - another conundrum!
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's just one of lifes mysteries - I am growing Cobra for the first time but compared to the runners they aren't that prolific - or maybe they are just slow starters.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely bouquet of sweet peas, Anna, almost get the scent over here! Could it be that light and temperature levels are the reason for them starting to ripen at the top? I remember too that my beans usually ripened first halfway up or at the top and then later I'd pick the lower ones. Well as long as there are any to pick, we shouldn't worry too much, I guess ;)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful sweet peas, they deserved to be showcased. Mysterious on the bean front, wish I could help, but I am climbing bean free, though my dwarf beans are producing like broad beans, from the ground up.
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