No More Dry-type Beans

[habitat-gardener]

I just picked a bunch of dry pods today from my California Blackeye No. 5 bush beans. It seems like they've taken a long time to start setting beans! The DTM is listed as 65 days, but I direct-seeded them on May 13 (so around 90 days). Two-thirds of July had days over 100F, though. We get no rain from June to Sept.

I planted them because they are supposed to be nematode resistant, and this is a bed where I didn't plant the nematode-suppressing Kodiak mustard cover crop. There was a gopher hole in the bed a couple months ago, but the gopher doesn't seem to have bothered the beans since then.

[GoDawgs]

I grow Big Red Ripper cow peas every year and they do just fine even though I've not seen where they are listed as nematode resistant. This year I tried Mississippi Silver blackeyes which are supposedly nematode resistant. So far they're doing just fine too. Those and the young Red Rippers are the only legumes in the garden right now and so far I haven't seen any of the Riptortus bugs on either of them.

[Tormahto]

"Someone" will gladly take all of the varieties, that you no longer will plant, off of your hands.

Contender, I don't know what you put on those to make them palatable. Some beans are nearly tasteless, but Contender is the one and only snap bean that I do not like its taste, in my garden having a grassy flavor.

[Seven Bends]

"Someone" will gladly take all of the varieties, that you no longer will plant, off of your hands.

Contender, I don't know what you put on those to make them palatable. Some beans are nearly tasteless, but Contender is the one and only snap bean that I do not like its taste, in my garden having a grassy flavor.

Contender is delicious from my garden. I don't notice a difference in flavor between Contender and Blue Lake 274; do you dislike the flavor of Blue Lake also? I know you brought this up before and I responded pretty much the same way; just sticking up for one of my favorite beans.

[GoDawgs]

Different gardens and conditions, different flavors! Mine taste just fine.

[Tormahto]

"Someone" will gladly take all of the varieties, that you no longer will plant, off of your hands.

Contender, I don't know what you put on those to make them palatable. Some beans are nearly tasteless, but Contender is the one and only snap bean that I do not like its taste, in my garden having a grassy flavor.

Contender is delicious from my garden. I don't notice a difference in flavor between Contender and Blue Lake 274; do you dislike the flavor of Blue Lake also? I know you brought this up before and I responded pretty much the same way; just sticking up for one of my favorite beans.

Of the many hundreds of snaps (including trialing early snaps of dry bean varieties) that I've had, Contender is the one and only awful tasting bean. Another gardener concurs that it is the only awful one, and has the same "grassy" flavor that I taste. Some year maybe I'll make crosses with it, trying to get something very early. I figure that there is no possible way that a cross could taste as bad, or worse, only better.

[Seven Bends]

"Someone" will gladly take all of the varieties, that you no longer will plant, off of your hands.

Contender, I don't know what you put on those to make them palatable. Some beans are nearly tasteless, but Contender is the one and only snap bean that I do not like its taste, in my garden having a grassy flavor.

Contender is delicious from my garden. I don't notice a difference in flavor between Contender and Blue Lake 274; do you dislike the flavor of Blue Lake also? I know you brought this up before and I responded pretty much the same way; just sticking up for one of my favorite beans.

Of the many hundreds of snaps (including trialing early snaps of dry bean varieties) that I've had, Contender is the one and only awful tasting bean. Another gardener concurs that it is the only awful one, and has the same "grassy" flavor that I taste. Some year maybe I'll make crosses with it, trying to get something very early. I figure that there is no possible way that a cross could taste as bad, or worse, only better.

Your experience with this bean doesn't seem to match most people's experience with this bean, is all I'm saying.

[Tormahto]

"Someone" will gladly take all of the varieties, that you no longer will plant, off of your hands.

Contender, I don't know what you put on those to make them palatable. Some beans are nearly tasteless, but Contender is the one and only snap bean that I do not like its taste, in my garden having a grassy flavor.

Contender is delicious from my garden. I don't notice a difference in flavor between Contender and Blue Lake 274; do you dislike the flavor of Blue Lake also? I know you brought this up before and I responded pretty much the same way; just sticking up for one of my favorite beans.

Of the many hundreds of snaps (including trialing early snaps of dry bean varieties) that I've had, Contender is the one and only awful tasting bean. Another gardener concurs that it is the only awful one, and has the same "grassy" flavor that I taste. Some year maybe I'll make crosses with it, trying to get something very early. I figure that there is no possible way that a cross could taste as bad, or worse, only better.

Your experience with this bean doesn't seem to match most people's experience with this bean, is all I'm saying.

I've read many commercial sellers of Contender giving a description of it. Never has there been a description of its flavor.

[GoDawgs]

You know, it might be differences in the strain of the seed. Here's a perfect example of differences between years. I have two batches of original Contender seed, both bought from Southern Exposure. Check out the difference in color!

24.08.16 Contenders from 2 different vendors.JPG

I just planted Row 1 of Contenders this morning, using all of the 2019 SE seed and finishing with the other. I've marked which is which so I'll be able to note any differences in plants and in taste. Hopefully I'll be able to save some seed from both to see if there's any difference.

[habitat-gardener]

You know, it might be differences in the strain of the seed. Here's a perfect example of differences between years. I have two batches of original Contender seed, both bought from Southern Exposure. Check out the difference in color!
...

I've noticed that some beans I've saved get darker with age. Could that explain the difference here?

[GoDawgs]

You know, it might be differences in the strain of the seed. Here's a perfect example of differences between years. I have two batches of original Contender seed, both bought from Southern Exposure. Check out the difference in color!
...

I've noticed that some beans I've saved get darker with age. Could that explain the difference here?

Interesting thought! Could be. Even the beans within the newer pack are slightly different, one being more tan and others a lot lighter.

[Tormahto]

You know, it might be differences in the strain of the seed. Here's a perfect example of differences between years. I have two batches of original Contender seed, both bought from Southern Exposure. Check out the difference in color!
...

I've noticed that some beans I've saved get darker with age. Could that explain the difference here?

Interesting thought! Could be. Even the beans within the newer pack are slightly different, one being more tan and others a lot lighter.

Grow out both years, and fresh seeds of both will be identical, with the slight variations in color known for the variety.

Jeminez is the quickest to darken that I've seen. It begins to darken in about half a year. It's easy to see the difference between one year old harvested seed, and newly harvested seed.

[GoDawgs]

@Tormato, than you for that explanation. I have planted both and marked which are which.

[Seven Bends]

"Someone" will gladly take all of the varieties, that you no longer will plant, off of your hands.

Contender, I don't know what you put on those to make them palatable. Some beans are nearly tasteless, but Contender is the one and only snap bean that I do not like its taste, in my garden having a grassy flavor.

Contender is delicious from my garden. I don't notice a difference in flavor between Contender and Blue Lake 274; do you dislike the flavor of Blue Lake also? I know you brought this up before and I responded pretty much the same way; just sticking up for one of my favorite beans.

Of the many hundreds of snaps (including trialing early snaps of dry bean varieties) that I've had, Contender is the one and only awful tasting bean. Another gardener concurs that it is the only awful one, and has the same "grassy" flavor that I taste. Some year maybe I'll make crosses with it, trying to get something very early. I figure that there is no possible way that a cross could taste as bad, or worse, only better.

Your experience with this bean doesn't seem to match most people's experience with this bean, is all I'm saying.

I've read many commercial sellers of Contender giving a description of it. Never has there been a description of its flavor.

Urban Farmer: excellent flavor, delicious, delectable taste
Victory Seeds: tasty
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange: delectable taste
Holland Bulb Farms/Wetsel Seed: always the winner in our taste tests, full and rich in flavor
American Seed Co.: very flavorful
Gurney: good green bean flavor
Eden Brothers: excellent flavor
Sow Right Seeds: delicious
Turtle Tree Seed: mild and tender
Botanical Interests doesn't mention flavor in their description, but review comments include "so delicious," "tasty," "excellent flavor."
Sand Hill Preservation doesn't mention flavor but they don't for most of their snap bean varieties
Harris, Johnny's and Park don't sell them.

Burpee Seed and MI Gardener both refer to "strong, distinctive flavor," which sounds like it could explain your reaction to the taste, but they're the only ones who say that (and it sounds like maybe MI Gardener just copied Burpee's description). One Burpee reviewer refers to bitter and earthy flavor.

I'm not saying it's the most delicious green bean ever or that you're not entitled to your own opinion about its taste. I'm just saying it tastes exactly like other green beans to me and has been delicious in my garden, which is very different from awful and worst bean ever.

[worth1]

Okay I looked up contender seeds and saw two different colors of beans.
One dark and one light.
This is a parallel with the different colors of cranberry beans you can get.
Obviously several different strains are afoot.

[Seven Bends]

You know, it might be differences in the strain of the seed. Here's a perfect example of differences between years. I have two batches of original Contender seed, both bought from Southern Exposure. Check out the difference in color!


24.08.16 Contenders from 2 different vendors.JPG

I just planted Row 1 of Contenders this morning, using all of the 2019 SE seed and finishing with the other. I've marked which is which so I'll be able to note any differences in plants and in taste. Hopefully I'll be able to save some seed from both to see if there's any difference.

My Contender seeds are from Southern States Cooperative. They're more like the beans on the left in your picture, basically the color of "light" kidney beans in a can. I've never seen them as dark as the ones on the right in your picture, but those are pretty!

[bower]

You're forgetting that @Tormato has a special revulsion for 'green' tastes.....
I've had green beans with a 'grassy' taste before, too. But it might not bother me.

[Tormahto]

You know, it might be differences in the strain of the seed. Here's a perfect example of differences between years. I have two batches of original Contender seed, both bought from Southern Exposure. Check out the difference in color!


24.08.16 Contenders from 2 different vendors.JPG

I just planted Row 1 of Contenders this morning, using all of the 2019 SE seed and finishing with the other. I've marked which is which so I'll be able to note any differences in plants and in taste. Hopefully I'll be able to save some seed from both to see if there's any difference.

My Contender seeds are from Southern States Cooperative. They're more like the beans on the left in your picture, basically the color of "light" kidney beans in a can. I've never seen them as dark as the ones on the right in your picture, but those are pretty!

The ones on the right are simply old. Few people likely keep bean seeds for 5 years, when many look like an 85% dark chocolate bar.

[Tormahto]

You're forgetting that @Tormato has a special revulsion for 'green' tastes.....
I've had green beans with a 'grassy' taste before, too. But it might not bother me.

I didn't know that I'm special. Do I get a participation trophy?

If one has ever trialed the variety Absinthe (tomato of the year more than a decade ago - now having almost completely disappeared), in a bad weather season, one knows what a revulsion a bitter green taste is, going way beyond just the normal everyday revulsion, like most summer lettuce.

One thing with me, is that I may be on the low to middle end of the scale for "super tasters".

Got green gel?

Got any abandoned lines of small dark-fruited determinates, that are way too late for growing, there? If you haven't seen the posts, look up "Patti's Lump of Coal".