The Bean Dilemma

I'm all for mix and match. Try some new ones and also some old favourites. Hedge your bets.

I haven't got many 'new' beans but have lots of different ones. I think it'll be one or two CFB with the majority being DFB.
Probably Hunter and a pencil type CFB. DFB will be Atlanta and Organdi plus others I won't be able to resist. I don't succeed with the novelty beans like yin yang, Jacobs cattle, etc plus I've got masses of dried beans to use up so won't be growing those this year.

I'll be growing dwarf french 2 varieties. Don't know the name but 1 for eating pods and the other, from a french supermarket several years ago, for drying.
Climbing I've only grown one to dry in the past, Soissons, but they are a long time ripening and difficult to cover with a fleece if an early autumn frost threatens. I would highly recommend Selma Zebra which I got in a random mix from T&M a couple of years ago. I'll be growing again this year as it is quite prolific and fast to grow and produces dried seeds quite early in the year. It isn't quite so easy to shell as soissons though. It cooks quicker than a lot of dried beans also. It doesn't seem to be on sale anywhere now so if anyone wants to try it I could send a few seeds. Veggie might have some as well as she got a random mix same time I did,

Despite sharing the novelty types in the swaps, I never have very good luck with them either. They are treated quite mean compared with their climbing cousins, so that could be the culprit.

I bought some Kentucky Wonder Wax this year to grow with my other million varieties, but I'll be taking the approach recommended, some new and some old.

If you need any very American sounding new beans to try, Veggie, do let me know (ooh, could throw in some Vermont cranberry beans too, just to keep a theme!)

Thanks for your input, everyone.
Since its raining, I've decided to play with beans. I'm going through the packets and turfing out anything acquired before 2020. I'll put all of these old beans in a jar, for potluck sowing. That, roughly, halves the number of packets I have - then I'll have a think about what to do with the fresher seeds. May cut it down further to seeds acquired since 2022. We'll see.

Progress! I have 3 jam jars of old beans - sorted into climbing beans and dwarf beans. When the time is right, I'll spread them out on trays of old compost, or damp fleece and see if there's life in any of them. If not, I know a compost bin that will take them in.
I still haven't decided which of the newer beans I want to grow but that will be a task for another day, At least I know what I have now.

I'll be growing dwarf french 2 varieties. Don't know the name but 1 for eating pods and the other, from a french supermarket several years ago, for drying.
Climbing I've only grown one to dry in the past, Soissons, but they are a long time ripening and difficult to cover with a fleece if an early autumn frost threatens. I would highly recommend Selma Zebra which I got in a random mix from T&M a couple of years ago. I'll be growing again this year as it is quite prolific and fast to grow and produces dried seeds quite early in the year. It isn't quite so easy to shell as soissons though. It cooks quicker than a lot of dried beans also. It doesn't seem to be on sale anywhere now so if anyone wants to try it I could send a few seeds. Veggie might have some as well as she got a random mix same time I did,

I have grown the Selma Zebra and still have a couple of packets left. Maybe I'll try it again this year as you recommend it. Thanks Mark..

Despite sharing the novelty types in the swaps, I never have very good luck with them either. They are treated quite mean compared with their climbing cousins, so that could be the culprit.

I bought some Kentucky Wonder Wax this year to grow with my other million varieties, but I'll be taking the approach recommended, some new and some old.

If you need any very American sounding new beans to try, Veggie, do let me know (ooh, could throw in some Vermont cranberry beans too, just to keep a theme!)

 I dare not add any more beans to my seed stash but I am curious to know what your new beans are, DJ. Please tell!