Bean Seed

For the past eight years, excluding last summer, I have grown Provider bush beans.  They were my prolific, full proof, canning, freezing, fresh eating green bean.  Last year I turned my back on them.  Completely disregarding any common sense I have, I planted six different varieties of string beans, everything from the french bean, Fin de Bagnol, the Purple Podded Pole, and Dragon Langerie to the more common Kentucky Wonder.  As I am sure you have already guessed, a few of the varieties I purchased almost solely for their irresistible names.  My harvest baskets were beautiful filled with handfuls of gold, purple and speckled beans.

The downside of my indulgence was that I was never able to harvest enough beans to process a large batch for freezing or pickling.  Instead, I processed many, many small batches over a much longer period of time.  And although the gold, purple and speckled beans retained their wonderful flavor, which we are still enjoying, they did not retain their color or much of their firmness.  So, Provider, will you take me back this year?  I am very sorry for my transgression.  You may have your own bed back.  I will leave the tee pee for the frivolous pole bean with its colored coat, because there has to be a little room for the Gold of Bacau.