September In The Trial Garden

We finally finished our “Grow Your Own Soup Bean Mix” trial and selected the 4 best dried bean varieties for our new mix: Painted Pony, Hidatsa Red Indian, Yellow Indian Woman, and Jacob's Cattle beans. These 4 heirlooms grew at the same rate, matured at the same time, look beautiful together, and taste totally terrific used in soups, and casseroles.

After the different colored beans are thoroughly dried out in their pods, we put them in a sturdy pillow case, and smack it on the ground, which breaks open the pods and the heavier beans fall to the bottom of the case. We scoop out the empty pods, spill the dried beans onto flat basket, and use a hair dryer to blow away remaining small bits of dry pods. The cleaned up beans are they are stored in an airtight jar. (See our video of this process.)

Many summer crops are finishing, so we are in the process of turning over the beds and planting for fall. Pictures show radish and broccoli seedlings. Cool season varieties on our trials list include: cilantro, dill, parsley, radishes, lettuces, gailon, pak choi, tatsoi, broccoli, cabbage, Napa cabbage, endive, cauliflower, carrots, kale, and spring flowers including sweet peas, snapdragons, and pansies.

By sowing the seeds now while the soil is still warm, the plants will grow vigorously and be large enough to withstand cooler temperatures as we head towards winter. In our zone 8 climate, broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower will start heading up when weather cools off in late fall. Flowers like the sweet peas will develop strong roots over the cold months, supporting strong and early spring growth and bloom.