beginner question: when to pick fortex?

19 years ago

Hi all,

I've never grown beans before, but I was dared to grow them so I planted Fortex a few months ago. Now I have beans that are about 5-6 inches long and 1/4 inches thick. Should I wait until they fatten up to pencil-width or can they be picked now? How big do they get? Thanks for letting me pick your collective brains!

Anna

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Comments (5)

fliptx
19 years ago
I usually picked mine at 6-7 inches though they get longer and stay tender for a pretty long time.
zeedman Zone 5 Wisconsin
19 years ago
"Fortex" beans will get 10-11" long under good conditions, and still be stringless & tender. Some prefer them 5-6" long & slender. Either way, or eaten out of hand, they are delicious.
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marquette
19 years ago
Aaaaaah, Zeedman, look at'em beans. Great pic.

BTW is Fortex beany tasting or mild? Prolific or restrained?
zeedman Zone 5 Wisconsin
19 years ago
"BTW is Fortex beany tasting or mild? Prolific or restrained?"

Very firm, sweet, & mild. This is one of the best I have tried eaten raw - I eat a lot while I pick. Its quality both fresh & frozen is outstanding. But for those that enjoy the "beany" flavor, there are others more suited.

The flushes are smaller, but more prolonged, than many pole beans; there are fewer flowers per stalk. This is more than compensated for by the large pod size. The vines also seem to have a shorter period between flushes than most others, some years they hardly stop at all.

But there are other qualities that make "Fortex" worth growing. It has excellent cool-soil germination, and is highly rust-resistant... so for those in areas prone to rust, this is one of several varieties that I would recommend.

If it has one drawback, it would be wind. The long pods can bruise if exposed to strong winds. I usually grow them behind other tall crops for protection, such as yardlong beans or blocks of corn.

Optimal spacing may vary, but the best results for me are obtained by planting hills of 4-5 every 12" of row, and thinning to 2 @ 12". Give them a tall trellis; mine is over 6 feet tall, and they cover it easily.
anna.irving
Original Author
19 years ago
"If it has one drawback, it would be wind. The long pods can bruise if exposed to strong winds."

Aha, that's what the discolorations on the pods are. Curse those Santa Ana winds.

Thanks a lot for all your replies! I looked at them today and found some a foot long, they were hiding from me! Picked those.

What "beany"-tasting beans would be recommended? Research, you see, in case I get bean-obsession like I do most other veggies I try...

Anna