Help for Florida Beans

[Jen Kobrick]

Hello Bean Buddies! I live in East central FL (daytona area) and I'm new to growing beans here. In Colorado I pretty much stuck them in the ground, ignored them, and harvested them. Here... Well I'd heard they don't like our hot summers so I planted them way early but then they got hit with a March almost freeze. Now it's already getting hot & dry and I don't seem to be able to water them enough to keep them from turning brown. And in between I think a gopher tortoise ate a bunch of the leaves. So I've pretty much given up until the fall, but when I do plant again, any tips for growing beans in Florida? I tried 10 varieties this time, 7 RG beans & 3 pea varieties. This next time I'll have all those + some family heirlooms & the beans from the bean trials. Do I need to spread them out around the garden to avoid cross pollination?

[Happy Dodson]

 I’m also interested in learning the guidance the rest of you have to offer on the subject of hot summers and growing our beans.

 

I looked up Daytona’s hardiness zone, which is 9b.  Here in gulf coast Louisiana, just to the west of New Orleans, we live in zone 9a, which has hot and humid summers.  Years ago when I grew a few snap beans, they were very successful in our spring garden.  Summer’s heat burned up just about everything.  Now I’m interested in these longer-growing beans, probably all pole beans (But is that right?  Are any of these beans bush beans?).

 

Did we all receive the same five varieties of beans?  My packets say:  Ayacote Amarillo, Eye of the Goat, Good Mother Stallard, Lila, and San Franciscano.

 

I handicapped myself last Saturday when I fell in the yard and sprained my right wrist – ow!  I had almost cleaned out the new bed intended for these and other beans, but not yet finishing the bed is really slowing me down.  Once I do get growing, I thought I’d space out planting the beans and keep a journal of their progress.  Heavy rain twice since then – over four inches – kept me from trying to do anything left-handedly.  Eventually I’ll get my bean growing underway! 

 

I’m trying to decide what to use for supporting pole beans – suggestions? 

 

I wonder, Jen, if heavy mulching would help cool the soil around your beans over the summer?  I thought I’d try that here but am still considering what to use as mulch.  Occasionally we get bags of used coffee grounds from Whole Foods.  In a thin layer it’s actually good mulch, but we don’t get much of it and probably need something else for thickness.  And I’m somewhat concerned that used coffee grounds might make the soil too acidic for beans.

 

Jen, did you say earlier that your family heirloom beans are limas?  I read somewhere that limas really like hot summers.

 

Smiles,

Bean Buddy Happy Dodson    

 

 

 

[Cary Bradley]

Hi Jen, A terrific resource of bean knowledge from folks all over the country is a FB group called Heirloom Bean Addicts Anonymous.  They are very nice, knowledgeable and happy to share their sage advice and love of all things heirloom beans.  I'd suggest giving them a try for help in growing in your new digs.  I've relocated from Southern California to New England and it does take some time to learn your new habitat, but is very doable.  I definitely understand your old Colorado style.  In Southern California I say we could just throw seeds out the window and any and all would grow just fine!  Good luck!  Cary Bradley

[D&J Mathews]

Hey Bean Buddies~ I can't help with growing advice outside the Napa area. But I have an idea for support. I built a frame of PVC pipe ( mine is 10'x8' ) I cemented some of the corners, but left some free. I strung 6"x 6" nylon mesh on this. I put a tee rather than an elbow on the bottom two corners and drove rebar into the soil to support the base. It does take some support at the top, Mine grows next to my house so I have small eye screws in the siding and run baling wire or string to keep the top from tipping. Beans are happy to climb up (and over) this; they just need a bit of guidance to get them started, Hope this helps or gives some inspiration.  Janice Mathews. 

[Jen Kobrick]

Happy, nearly all the ones I tried this time were bush beans. I'm not sure about mulch, but I'm going to try partial shade at least! And also see what that Facebook group has to say. Thanks!

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