Yardlong Beans...

Each year I try to grow something new or unusual...  This year it's egg-shaped ornamental gourds and yardlong beans. I planted the gourds along the chain-link fence by the chicken run. I had envisioned egg gourds hanging all over the run, but the squash bugs invaded the vines and I didn't want to spray an insecticide so close to the chickens.--I ended up with only 4 egg gourds and about 1000 squash bugs...

The beans, however, have been a success!--If you're interested in the official name it's Vihna ungruiculata subsp. esquipedalis, but it's also know as yardlong bean, long-podded cowpea, asparagus bean, snake bean and Chinese long bean.  I've admired this vegetable for years at the Asian stand at the Farmers' Market, but hadn't really thought about planting it until Jeff built what he called "bean poles" this year.  It seemed appropriate to plant a climbing bean vine on these trellises and this variety was the most unusual or interesting...





The yardlong bean (which is actually more closely related to a pea) is a subtropical/tropical plant grown widely in Southeastern Asia. Supposedly it likes the heat and that's probably why it has done so well in my garden this year.--We've had record high temps and drought this summer with several days in a row of over 100 degrees....



I will definitely plant these again. --The vine is beautiful and the beans are tasty!  And...  who wouldn't be impressed with a 19 inch green bean?

Check out more garden successes at Tootsie Time and Fishtail Cottage....