Noted: Pole Beans

Pole beans in a wash tub

The pole beans planted in early May have started to yield results almost 70 days later.  The 5-6 squares of beans planted May 6 have created 2 massive vine towers and 3 shorter towers.  Today I harvested about 1 pound of beans with more on the way.

• The plants sharing the 4x4 box with the zucchini yield the most and grow most vigorously.
• The plants growing around a study bamboo teepee are the easiest to harvest and the most pleasing to observe
• The tower created around old tomato cages make a wobbly tangle.  
• The beans planted in the homemade "self watering" container box yield the least and look spindly
• Those in the wash tub and the watering trough containers also seem less vigorous although they were probably least densely planted as well.

I  have met my goal of providing enough beans for our family for a few weeks.  The costs including one time start-up expenses were high.

Ongoing costs

• $100 water for 3 months over and above what we use during the off season
• $15 seeds

One time costs:

• $150 for soil ingredients: vermiculite, lava rock, various composts, lignea peat
• $140: 2 watering troughs
• $20: recycled 2x4s for 4x4 planter box
• $15 bamboo pole supports
• $20 garden ties,bits and pieces for the drip system

Stuff that was "free-cycled"

• Drip watering system (re-purposed from other years)
• Washtub
• Worm compost
• Hose

The best part is finally having something to do with all the worm compost I've been generating over the past 2-3 years.... next I'll try to measure the effects of the various types of compost... but maybe next season.  For now I'm going to eat some beans.