I came home happily from the local supermarket last evening and was completely shocked and to see this hanging amongst my snake bean plants.
A full grown snake bean!
Where did that come from? I blinked and my first reaction was to scream for my mom because she is famous for her pranks. She once produced a 3 year old lottery ticket (we call it 4D here) bearing the first prize numbers of that day’s draw. I jumped in jubilation for awhile before realising that the ticket has expired, bearing the same winning numbers no doubt, but the ticket was bought 3 years ago. This is the extent of my mom’s pranks. This woman actually keeps her 4D tickets for years, waiting for her chance to play such a prank. So I doubted the snake bean at first, she could have stuck it on for all I knew.
Upon closer inspection, it’s for real! After lamenting and mooning for weeks, I suddenly have a full grown surprise snake bean and it’s 22.5 inches already! Still scratching my head on this, but nevertheless, happy. Yes, even if it is just one snake bean.
Our deduction was that it could be growing at the very top of the blinds and was rustled from its resting postion during the heavy rain and hence, just dropped to its current position. I have a strange balcony of plants, first my lemon balm, now this.
My mom joked that it is my one yield snake bean. 5 plants and close to 3 months of waiting produces just one yield.
But behold, I saw some more flowers! Happy as a lark. Which means I’ve got about 4 more snake beans to come. I’ve never seen snake bean flowers before and they look great! Thanks everyone for your words of encouragement. I thought it will never happen but it’s true! It did!
The snake bean plants has been deteriorating rapidly this few days (not sure if it’s the freaky weather) and we might have to take everything down after this batch has finished growing their snake beans. But in retrospect, I’ve learnt alot about how better to grow them (no overcrowding and provide ample trellis cos they climb like mad and need good support) and the feeling of finally having grown something is just great.
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April 7, 2008 at 5:22 pm
rowena
Woohoo!!! Teresa I am so HAPPY for you! I could just feel your excitement pouring out through your words, and taking some of that good mojo and putting it toward my fava and long beans that are waiting to be transplanted. It’s still a bit chilly outside, I think, so until the outdoor temps stay at a steady 60°C, my little plants are getting the deluxe treatment in the house.
Way to go!
April 8, 2008 at 2:18 am
Kristi
Yeah, that’s very exciting. I love when they finally start producing, it’s the waiting I hate. That’s a prize winning bean too, look how big it is.
April 8, 2008 at 3:17 am
pwiebe
That’s great news!
How is the tomato plant doing? Do you see any tiny green tomatoes starting to form behind the blossoms yet??
April 8, 2008 at 5:10 am
Kate
That snake bean is so long you will have enough to share with your mother! Just cut off the sick leaves and it will keep going for a while yet.
April 8, 2008 at 7:32 am
Anonymous
hi theresa, its so encouraging to see ’something’ bear fruit finally.
when i first started (not so long ago), i was counting every leaf every hour!!
April 9, 2008 at 10:51 am
joco
Is there a balcony on the floor below you? and are you friendly with your neighbours?
Growing your beans there means they can climb up to you and you can harvest them in peace at eye level.
I hope you will take a picture of the first big meal, with everybody sharing the THE bean.
April 15, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Teresa
Hi Rowena! Thanks man! Can’t wait to see more posts on your garden too! Show me more pictures!
Hi Kristi! Thanks! You said it right…. “love it when they FINALLY start producing” I agree 101% with you!
Hi Patrick! Thanks! Nope, I try to blow them everytime I see a flower bloom. LOL, nothing so far, all dropped. I think I have to try harder at my fertilization efforts.
Hi Kate! Thanks for the advice, okie cos I really hope the snake bean plant can keep going for a long while.
Hi Rummi! You’re growing so many stuff! Keep posting!
Hi Joco! Hehehe, you make me laugh, I wish I could “expand” my balcony space this way too. Hehehe.
April 23, 2008 at 12:30 am
Patrick
Teresa — Over fertilizing can cause this problem too, and in fact it’s much more common to have problems with over fertilizing than under fertilizing. Exactly what are you giving it?
April 26, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Teresa
Hi Patrick! The strange thing is I haven’t been giving it anything. Just water. No compost even. Hmmm… Could it be the water? We use water that is recycled from rinsing rice.
May 4, 2008 at 12:34 am
Patrick
I don’t think it’s the water. I don’t know what the problem could be…