13 - Friday, June 9, 1989 - North Shore News | Variety of beans available for planting THIS ARTICLE is full of beans So, if you are of the persuasion that is not partial to this member of the legume family or to weak attempts at humor (see above), tough beans. There is a lot of confusion sur- rounding this little group. The question should not be to bean or not to bean, but rather which bean to buy? delicious when cooked and eaten like the sugar-podded peas, while mature pods can be enjoyed in the same manner as the Lima bean. There are a few people who suf- fer extreme allergic reactions to this bean, especially those of Mediterranean descent. If you are not sure, a quick whiff of a pollen-loaded blossom will tell the tale. They are cool-season plants and, like the peas, should be sown early over the _ garden gate What, for example, is the dif- ference between snap beans, string beans, Lima beans, bush beans, broad beans and bean dip? Let’s try to clean this up a little. Broad beans are actually more closely related to the peas and vet- ches than the: beans. It is the only member of the commonly grown beans to originate in Europe; all the others come from the ‘‘New World.” Immature broad beans are Geoff Tobiasson b. the spring (say early April) for best results. They mature in 60 to 30 days depending on the temperature. Look for ‘Toto’, a good dwarf,or ‘Broad Windsor Long Pod’. Plant the seed one inch deep, four to five inches apart in a rich, non-acid soil with good drainage. Space the rows out at 18 to 30 in- ches apart and in a north/south direction to provide as much sun as possible. 25% on custom labour... Specializing in e draperies © upholstery ¢ bedspreads * custom furniture ¢ slipcovers Staking is not a requirement for this bushy plant, but it wouldn’t hurt. They are prone to aphids, but regular spraying with insecticidal soaps should take care of the little beasties. A less common but more serious problem is powdery mildew. The secret here is to choose a sunny, well-ventilated site and avoid overhead watering. ' Lima beans are a bargain. When ‘Fordhook’ was first introduced in 1890, a package of four seeds sold for 75 cents. That must equate to at least $15 per seed in today’s worthless money. ‘Fordhook’ is still numbered among the most popular varieties ‘and you can get 50 seeds for under 2. Combine that price with their huge yield of highly nutritious beans and it is no wonder I call them a bargain. Unlike the broad wean, these plants love the heat. Do not be in a rush to get them in because the seed will not germinate in cold ground; the warmer weather early June is fine. In a warm site that is protected from coo] winds, they will mature in 70 to 90 days. ‘There are both bush and pole types available. Plant bush Limas like ‘For- dhook’ or ‘Eastland’ one inch deep and two to three inches apart in rows that are two feet apart. . Pole varieties such as ‘King of yellow bush snap beans (wax beans) the Garden’ that are to be grown up a fence should be spaced eight inches apart. If you are planting them around free-standing poles space three to four seeds around poles set two feet apart. Bush and pole beans include the . snap (stringless), string (no longer commonly grown) and wax beans (yellow). Good varieties are ‘Contender’, ‘Bush Blue Lake’, ‘Bush Romano’ (italian), ‘Provider’, ‘Tendercrop’ and ‘Cherokee Wax’. : Some good pole beans to look for would be ‘Blue Lake’, ‘Ken- tucky Wonder’ and ‘Kentucky Wonder Wax’. These, too, should be planted only after the soil has warmed and dried out in early June. Warm, See Speciaity Page 14 OUR LATEST MALAYSIAN SHIPMENT HAS ARRIVED! THE ENTIRE STOCK OF FINE QUALITY MALAYSIAN POTS ARE "ON SALE AT AGRYLIC Pa aii Wesison e__ INTERLOCKING gees, PAVINGSTONES = “E> a3 Unipave Holland per kit! Cash & Carry