The Gigantes are popping up..
 

Really pleased about this as I have not grown them out for a few years now and the seed is a little old, but they popped up today,, made my day!!

Good to hear you had good germination, I have them on the grow list for next year, I only grow one runner a year and it's Aeron Purple Star again this year :).

So far I have Barksdale, Candy and Witsa planted out but have to cover them at night the %$#&%& slugs and snails are out in full force. Irish Conners is going out tomorrow along with a couple more. Because of the slug and snail problem I start all my beans in the greenhouse where they are surrounded by copper mesh. Not growing so many beans this year only 20 varieties, last year I think it was around 40, but some were only samples in containers.

Annette

That is a really good bean... glad to hear they germinated OK. I finally was able to get a good crop & increase my seed last year, after two years of low yields due to weather (hailed out one year). The shellies are wonderful, I froze several quarts.

I have to have my Gigandes, otherwise I couldn't make my Plaki.

Jeannine, I remember you were having difficulty finding seed for the "correct" Gigandes - where did you finally source them? Glad you did get them!

Hi Salix, how are you doing, I have been wondering where you were. Good to hear from you
Some things good, some not so good here, we must do a Pm chat to catch up I think

I finally found some in Greece and have grown the very biggest a couple of times si I am almost where I want to be with them

Let me know how you are doing

XX Jeannine

Yum, Plaki, even better the second day.

Annettr

My Gigantes are really racing to go, they are 18 inches in inside pots now and I was going to put them where my garlic came out as it is planted in my bean bed. hoping I can squeeze them in by the trellis and they can continue going up otherwise I will be in a right mess.

Well the neighbors now know I have lost it.

My garlic is planted in the bed I use for beans, the only one I have with a trellis on which backs onto the lawn of a very formal church and as my beans were dying to get out there, there I was still in my PJs because I was going to shower later after planting the beans right, anyway here I was parting the very tall garlic so I can get to the trellis to somehow squeeze the beans in and I hear a very polite "Good Morning" from the other side of the trellis, and there is the minister from the church, full three piece suit, briefcase, immaculate wife attached to one arm , hat on of course. "Lovely day for gardening" he says. as I poke my dirty mud covered face out of the garlic forest.. "Yes it is " was all I could think to say. He coughed slightly, she did a funny little smile and they walked away.

But, the important thing is I managed to squeeze the gigantes in..hip hip hurrah God Bless all gardeners!!.

LOL! I can relate-one time I had hair color on, out in my patio garden, and the mailman came around back with a package. He must've jumped a foot! LOL!

My daughter and I, we live together with ther husband by the way are always in our PJs, she puts them on the minute she gets home, I just don't usually garden in them, actually when I think about it, it wasn't PJs it was a calf length tee shirt that we laughingly call nighties and it probably had a naughty saying on the front, oh dear it is the washer right now but I am a bit worried..

XX Jeannine

Doesn't everyone gardened in their pj's, pure comfort :). I have a 6ft. solid wooden fence around my back garden.

Annette

Jeannine, this is classic! I'm cracking up! PLEASE tell us what the shirt says! I can't wait!

I just took it out of the washer is says

I prefer chocolate to sex, it's tastes sweeter , it doesn't disappoint you and it lasts longer

OH NO! LOL!

so glad you got them going! I too, remember when you were trying to source them a few years ago :)

Oh yes, that was very frustrating, but I got them and have been growing them on so the seeds are pretty much what I want now.

Any update on the Gigandes? How many DTM roughly speaking? I have considered trying to grow them. I like plaki, too.

I've read that true Gigandes are white runner beans and not limas. Do you know? Limas do well here but I haven't had success with runner beans.

MuddyToes when I grew them I didn't take notice of DTM but I started mine in pots, Apr 1st. by Aug 9th a lot were at the shelly stage. Yes, true Gigandes are white flowering runners not Limas.

Annette

Thanks, Annette. I'm going to try starting a few scarlet runner beans in March. I started some in June last year and it was a disaster. If it works, I'll try Gigandes next year. It gets crazy hot here in June but we sometimes have snow flurries in May...not much of a spring.

[QUOTE=Jeannine Anne;558160]I just took it out of the washer is says

I prefer chocolate to sex, it's tastes sweeter , it doesn't disappoint you and it lasts longer[/QUOTE]

LOL! Epic

[QUOTE=MuddyToes;603412]Any update on the Gigandes? How many DTM roughly speaking? I have considered trying to grow them. I like plaki, too.

I've read that true Gigandes are white runner beans and not limas. Do you know? Limas do well here but I haven't had success with runner beans.[/QUOTE]
DTM for runner beans is highly variable. You could probably rate them as days to first bloom... but from there, it depends upon the temperature. In cool temps (mid-70's F. & below) pods might set as soon as flowers appear; but in warm/hot temps, the vines might bloom for months without setting pods.

My Gigandes did not seem to mind low 80's, it set a few pods then; but the majority set when a 2-day cool front briefly interrupted the heat. The pods take a long time to go from flower to dry seed, I think it was almost 2 months. Muddytoes, chances are that your runner beans will set in late Summer / early Fall, unless you get one of those cool snaps. You might also try putting a sprinkler on the vines for several hours, to cool the plants.

Limas & runner beans are almost opposites in terms of heat. I am fortunate to live in one of the "sweet spots" where I can usually get mature seed for both.

[QUOTE=Zeedman;604170]DTM for runner beans is highly variable. You could probably rate them as days to first bloom... but from there, it depends upon the temperature. In cool temps (mid-70's F. & below) pods might set as soon as flowers appear; but in warm/hot temps, the vines might bloom for months without setting pods.

My Gigandes did not seem to mind low 80's, it set a few pods then; but the majority set when a 2-day cool front briefly interrupted the heat. The pods take a long time to go from flower to dry seed, I think it was almost 2 months. Muddytoes, chances are that your runner beans will set in late Summer / early Fall, unless you get one of those cool snaps. You might also try putting a sprinkler on the vines for several hours, to cool the plants.

Limas & runner beans are almost opposites in terms of heat. I am fortunate to live in one of the "sweet spots" where I can usually get mature seed for both.[/QUOTE]

Good to know, Zeedman. I suspect I'm probably better off sticking to limas and ordering the Gigandes to make the plaki. I'm still going to try starting the Scarlet Emperor Runner beans in the early spring though. They are so pretty. I like to fit in as much edible landscaping as my neighbors will allow. :cute:

Yes, you are fortunate, indeed, to be able to grow both. I am a novice bean grower but I like experimenting. If I lose some plants to frost from planting too early, I'll just replant with something else.

Lololol! That's awesome!!! Made me laugh out loud😂 God truly has a sense of humor!

I have a shirt that says," I love Jesus,but I cuss a little."
Just being honest. By the way, my brother is a preacher. ;)