Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Dragon Tongue Bush Beans Eaten by My Potager Critters!



Dragon Langerie/Dragon Tongue Bush Beans
2012 Dragon Bush Beans in Potager
An open-pollinated Dutch heirloom bean from the 18th century 
I rotate my vegetables in the potager each season. I do not have a lot of space so I grow pole beans on the fence between our yard and a neighbor. The bush beans are at the bottom and usually come in before the pole beans. I only plant dragon bush beans due to the fact I have never tasted a better bush bean.
A few years ago I tried a variety of bush beans to see which were the best. I found Dragon Tongue to be the best tasting bush bean. I usually grow pole beans since we do not have a lot of space on our city lot. This bush bean will always be planted every year. I plant a crop in the spring and also in the fall. They deal with heat very well, stringless, tender, easy to pick since they are too pretty to miss!
Here are  my dragon bush beans 2013. This has been the worst year for bush beans that I can remember.
 The bush beans were started outside late April. They were growing beautifully until, towards the end of May, I found them eaten off at the top. You can see how the beans were severed at the tip of their stem.The picture above shows some buds on the bush beans, I don't know if they will produce beans without the leaves. I have never had this happen.  I have never had them eaten in my potager for the past 10 years! 
My old fashioned vining petunia is growing beautifully next to my eaten beans.
I have had all my pole beans eaten to the base,too! I have them surrounded by a fence and cardboard so the little critters can't climb through and eat the beans. Some of my pole beans are producing new leaves. I sure hope they come back. I also replanted some of my beans in containers higher off the ground and may transplant them into the other containers. My Lemon Gem Marigolds, Alysum, and parsley are all doing well. I thought it was baby bunnies until yesterday I found a chipmunk tangled up in my netting. I know they are eating my stuff, but it made me sad to see him hurt. I sure hope I get some garden beans this year. I did start some more beans in containers throughout the garden. They will be a bit later, but better later then never!

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Wandering Wednesday....no direction but to plant, seed, water and rotate gardens!

I have been busy planting, getting plants to people, and watering in this heat of 90 degrees. That is too hot for May!!!!
I raised all my annuals this year again from seed which means spring is a busy time of year! That is why I have not posted in a few weeks. Just have not had time to wander and take pictures.... I decided to capture the last of the spring daffodils and tulips before they disappear until next spring....this week they will be gone for good....
My dainty heirloom daffodils bloom much later...they are perfect for floating in water vases.
I planted peony tulips last fall and they are just finishing their show....
I am looking forward to these developing over the years....just love the color red!
I can't have tulips in my front yard since the squirrels won't leave them alone. I have dogs which help keep the squirrels away in the backyard.
Spring is not here until the Johnny Jump Ups start blooming. I have a lot growing throughout the potager this year.
I grew some trailing pansy this year so we shall if they do branch out....
I put my spring flowers in small vases throughout the potager since we enjoy them in our salads..
I also put some Johnny Jump Ups in my radicchio bed that I started last fall....time to make a salad....