A bean of a different color

[spacealien_vamp]

Earlier, I mentioned briefly how I've started harvesting this year's trial beans. However, I felt that I didn't quite go into enough detail about just how exciting this is. I will now describe an illustrated example.

Last year, one of the varieties that I purchased to try was called Tarahumara Capirame. I planted several of these bean seeds in my garden, and most of them produced a harvest that looked identical to what I planted. However, one produced beans that were small and pink, quite distinct in appearance from the parent.

I gave these pink beans the nickname Jellybean, because they looked like something that might show up in an Easter basket. I saved all of the Jellybean seeds and planted them in my garden this year to see what would happen.

Today I harvested the first four mature pods from the Jellybean plants, and every single pod contained different colors of beans. The ones in the upper left look similar (though not identical) to the original Capirame, while the ones in the lower right look like the parent Jellybean (though the color is fainter). The remaining two types are completely new. I can only guess what other color variations I'll discover when I harvest more.

I don't even have words to express how geeked I am about this.

And this is only ONE of many beans that I'm testing in the garden this year.

Edit: Just look at the pretty pink pod! I'm dying to find out what beans are inside.

Comments

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Hee, that's awesome! They do look like jellybeans, too...(do they taste the same?)

[spacealien-vamp.livejournal.com]

do they taste the same?

Haha, somehow I doubt it. ^_^ I can't wait until I can collect enough of them to taste.

[mvrdrk.livejournal.com]

That is beyond words awesome!

[spacealien-vamp.livejournal.com]

I hope some of the rest turn out to be as exciting. It's hard to be patient.

[wednesday-10-00.livejournal.com]

So pretty! I love the white ones with the pink polka dots. Almost too pretty to eat.

[spacealien-vamp.livejournal.com]

There are so many beans I want to grow/increase next year that I'm giving serious thought to forgoing tomatoes in favor of using the space for more beans.

[wednesday-10-00.livejournal.com]

Ha, my initial reaction to this was "OMG, are you completely crazy???" but then I realized that you probably have access to decent tomatoes outside of your garden. (God save us all from Florida-grown supermarket tomatoes.)

[spacealien-vamp.livejournal.com]

I realized that you probably have access to decent tomatoes outside of your garden.

I do, fortunately. However, I may not have to take such drastic measures, if I can squeeze the beans into more corners of the yard. I need to see how well I can keep the place weeded in the winter.