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Post by Dutchy on Feb 2, 2010 19:04:53 GMT
Today I had a bit of a surprise arrive by mail.
A dear friend send me some beans her uncle used to grow.
He lived on Texel one of the Dutch Isles.
The beans are an ancient race that is hard to get by these days.
Lemon beans the are called and make for a perfect soup.
Is there a catch?
Yes.
She got the beans from him some 40 odd years ago and kept them in a drawer since.
I know all will now raise their brows as beans usually loose all will to live after three years.
But being the optimist I have now got 8 of them sitting in a vitality test. If by any chance one will show signs of life in 14 days I will be absolutely astonished and pleased.
Has any one ever successfully grown beans that were that old?
Am I being daft again?
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Post by Ladygardener on Feb 3, 2010 6:20:26 GMT
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Post by Rosefriend on Feb 3, 2010 8:10:42 GMT
Well done for having a go Dutchy...it would be marvellous if just one grew....keep us informed and can I put my name down on the list for seeds if you are successful.
What is the dutch name of the beans? I googled "zitronen bohnen" and only got recipes for adding lemons to beans!!
RF
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Post by Barbara on Feb 3, 2010 9:54:20 GMT
I googled lemon beans, just keeps saying add lemon juice to green beans, I hope you get them to grow dutchy, they deserve a chance after 40 years in a draw, just waiting and hoping.  |
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Post by Dutchy on Feb 3, 2010 10:58:04 GMT
The Dutch name is citroenboontje. They are a yellow bean but not the pod. I too first got recipies with lemon and beans but that is green beans with lemon and these beans are not that. This bean was used as a dry bean for cooking and has a yellow-ish colour. It is said to be perfect for bean soup with a lovely taste. Not sure if one can eat the pods. It needs a beanstake as it is growing tall. It is all a wait and see and if if if I get successful I will most certainly spread them to Germany and other countries  Vreeken is selling a variety of this bean and call it 'Gele Citroen' which translates to yellow lemon. (Eng: Dry Shelling Beans) (Phaseolus vulgaris, 'Sulphur Bean' , ´Jaune de Chine´) . This is a bean which is more rounded than the ones I have been send. (but maybe that is just because mine are over 40 ;D) |
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Post by carolann on Feb 3, 2010 17:40:30 GMT
You go girl it will be very interesting to see if they grow or not. Have you got a Dutch garden place like we have Kew over here? they would be very interested in an old type bean I'm sure. Keep us informed how you get on D and dont forget to talk to them everyday you never know it just may work and you get a lovely crop of beans/seeds |
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Post by Jasmine on Feb 3, 2010 18:58:07 GMT
Fingers crossed for you Dutchy. Wouldn't it be amazing to get some of them growing after all this time?
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Post by Barbara on Feb 3, 2010 19:45:43 GMT
Well they say life begins at 40. ;D
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Post by blodau on Feb 4, 2010 10:39:47 GMT
Please keep us posted on your success (or not). I do hope you manage to get some to grow. You may be helping to save a heritage seed.
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Post by Dutchy on Feb 4, 2010 10:59:26 GMT
So far the test beans have four all problem skin or rather "wrinkly beyond life" , two are in doubt and two appear still sort of normal.
I don't think the ones with the wrinkles can grow into anything but fingers crossed the others do germinate.
IF they do I'll plant them, when not I'll try a new batch. I was send some 30 beans. ( not really counted them )
I feel a bit inadequate to be saving a vintage/heritage seed.
But then I blunder in where wiser people might be too careful.
If the germination test doesn't work any suggestions on getting weak beans to grow?
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Post by Penny on Feb 4, 2010 11:47:28 GMT
Good luck with them, they have me curious here too. Keep us posted |
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Post by Rosefriend on Feb 4, 2010 17:59:51 GMT
As you have a few left, would it be worth soaking a couple in water for a couple of days, before planting them perhaps...or did you do that already??
RF
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Post by 4pygmies on Feb 4, 2010 18:03:39 GMT
How fascinating! Ooh, Dutchy, I hope they grow...I think RF's suggestion is sensible - give them a soak...coo, can't wait to find out now!  |
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Post by Dutchy on Feb 5, 2010 9:14:52 GMT
The seed vitality test is a soak and then sit between two sheets of moist kitchen paper.
After 14 days one should get roots and when not they are dead "meat".
The wrinkly ones have straightened again.
One of the non wrinkly ones is swelling.
Fingers doubly crossed now.
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Post by Rosefriend on Feb 5, 2010 10:46:29 GMT
Any chance of a couple of pics Dutchy??
RF
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Post by Ladygardener on Feb 5, 2010 19:16:11 GMT
Gosh it's all very exciting Dutchy. You've a right few people following your progress.
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Post by Dutchy on Feb 6, 2010 11:48:16 GMT
Bgggggggrrrr. Not a chance on a pic of the test ones now.
I had a peek and nearly fell flat on my bum.
The stench is discribeable only as I can probably rent it out to the devil as this one will make the little demons from hell very happy.
Help.
What else can I do as the test ones are clearly going from well dried to intense rotting with hardly an in between state.
Life may after all not start after 40 when you are a little white and yellow bean.
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Post by Rosefriend on Feb 6, 2010 12:01:14 GMT
Mmmh that's not so good, is it...did you have them in a propagator?? Perhaps just soaking them and then planting them and putting them on the windowsill might work...
As you say perhaps little lemon beans aren't supposed to come to life after 40 years...
RF
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Post by Dutchy on Feb 6, 2010 12:05:55 GMT
I had them in a dish between moist paper on the windowsill.
They now are outside in a sheltered spot.
That should not go below zero. They get some 5 more days there and then I will bury them unceremonious in the green bin. Unless....
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Post by Rosefriend on Feb 6, 2010 12:11:41 GMT
I think that it is certainly worth trying again...
RF
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Post by Dutchy on Feb 8, 2010 11:05:50 GMT
Not with this stench it isn't.
I'll wait till I can try outside.
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Post by Dutchy on Feb 9, 2010 9:50:02 GMT
As you were asking for pics. Here the not used ones are with coins to help you see the size. ( from left to right UK, USA, Europe )  The test ones ah yes well the sheltered spot was not sheltered enough... Binned. |
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Post by Rosefriend on Feb 9, 2010 9:53:05 GMT
Do you know they look very good indeed - hard to believe that they are over 40 years old!!!
RF
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Post by carolann on Mar 20, 2010 10:59:17 GMT
How are you going with the beans there Dutchy?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2010 14:22:30 GMT
Today I had a bit of a surprise arrive by mail. A dear friend send me some beans her uncle used to grow. He lived on Texel one of the Dutch Isles. The beans are an ancient race that is hard to get by these days. Lemon beans the are called and make for a perfect soup. Is there a catch? Yes. She got the beans from him some 40 odd years ago and kept them in a drawer since. I know all will now raise their brows as beans usually loose all will to live after three years. But being the optimist I have now got 8 of them sitting in a vitality test. If by any chance one will show signs of life in 14 days I will be absolutely astonished and pleased. Has any one ever successfully grown beans that were that old? Am I being daft again? I've never even heard of lemon beans, much less having seeds that are 40+ years old. Hope you're able to get them to show signs of life. Please update. |
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Post by Dutchy on Mar 25, 2010 19:11:33 GMT
Dead as door nails is the verdict and they used to be popular in the old days when the beans were used for soups and the likes the are a very creamy bean once cooked.
I am going to bung the lot in mud come May and see what happens with the rest but most likely they continue being dead.
I think this is the Latin Phaseolus vulgaris, : 'Sulphur Bean' , ´Jaune de Chine´ for an equal one that is still sold.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 18, 2010 18:50:51 GMT
Hi I just found this group! What a treat. Not to mention I had a friend give me a plant and told me it was a perennial and it was called a lemon bean. I am here in the USA. Does anyone know how to care for this plant? I have read it should have a trellis or some sort of support while growing. And the perennial part? I am in Michigan and it does get cold and snowy here in the winter. Thanks
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Post by Tig on Jun 18, 2010 18:57:45 GMT
Hi Quiltingfarmer and welcome to GWD. I haven't knowingly grown any perennial beans. Do you know if the one your friend gave you is a butter bean or a runner bean? I will have a look in my books and see what I can find. Someone else may know and help you out before I get back though x Tig |
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Post by Rosefriend on Jun 19, 2010 7:36:29 GMT
Welcome to GWD.
I can't find anything on the web about Lemon beans except recipes for lemon and beans. However I have heard of perennial beans - infact I am growing one - Hyacinth Bean (Dolichos lablab) which in tropical countries is a perennial but certainly not here in Germany , the winters are far too harsh.
There is the Scarlet Runner bean (Phaseolus coccineus) which is a perennial bean in that it comes up year after year, in warm countries. They are also called the "7 year bean" and hummingbirds love them - the normal runner bean as far as I know.
I suppose that it would be possible to dig up the roots in autumn, save them in a frost free environment and then re-plant them the following year??
RF
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Post by Dutchy on Jun 19, 2010 8:52:57 GMT
The lemon beans I was given were annuals. And yes they are all dead as a doornail so to speak.
I have never heard of a perennial either.
But had the beans I was given grown they would have become butter beans.
Lemon bean is a direct translation of the dutch original name.
Are there many old dutch related farms around your friend? Might be some one in the 18th or 19th century took them with them.
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