SEEDS: kidney-shaped, 5/8 inches long; on the concave curve, the portal for water to enter and start growth is on the concave center.
GERMINATION: Wet soil comes in contact with the cotyledons, tiny leaf and root. The two cotyledons begin to swell. They split open the seed coat; the tiny leaves and roots swell.
GROWTH: the root responds to gravity and turns downward to start its journey into the soil: the two tiny leaves burst into light with the curled stem; they enlarge; a third leaf appears and spreads out into the light. The leaves tell us the bean plant is a legume; growth continues until it becomes shrubby, leans over and is supported by its neighbors.
BLOSSOM: The pink flower is irregular. There is a top and bottom. Bees enter through the middle and inadvertently pollinate. The flower is about an inch across, lavender; below, two curled lobes; the petal is orange and curled; there are three tiny anthers ½” in size; the flower is tiny in the presence of a sea of tripartite leaves;
THE FRUIT: Hidden beneath the leaves the bean pods are hard to find; they are six inches long when fully grown, pale green, and show lumps which are enclosed beans; the pods are attached strongly to the plant; One must “tweak” them off so as to not disturb the entire plant. Picking beans is difficult. You need to gently part the leaves and find the pods.
The wonder, for me is this: HOW CAN SUCH A LONG POD COME FROM SUCH A TINY FLOWER?? What is the process of growth from the pollinated and fertilized flower?
The plant keeps producing fruit so you need to revisit the plant several times. Some pods are small and skinny. Pick the largest ones. The roots are shallow; frequent watering helps.
TOM’S BEAN PATCH IN COLD FRAME
The first bean of the season goes into my mouth. I hear and feel the satisfying crunch of health and nutrition. I pick all I can, then set them on a cutting board and chop off the pointy end.
From a handful of seeds that I planted in April – I harvest the bonanza in early July.
Steamed until they are deep green in color; add butter and fork them down. I also like to blacken them in a skillet, add hot sauce, and serve.
Beans are high in calcium, nitrogen,
I wait a year to experience beans. I exalt in picking each bean mindfully. Beans make it easy to call myself a farmer.
Julie
You are a great farmer Dad and I always enjoy the progress of your gardens.
Thanks Dad for including me in gardening experiences when I was a child. I am enjoying it now as an adult and find great happiness when my own child finds a ripe tomato, blackberry or snap pea in our garden and shares it with me….there is a sense of the past, present and future in these moments….