The bean succession planting plan devised over the winter has had some altering due to weather, but there have been a bounty of various beans all season. A few new varieties were planted (to see the full list, click on this year’s plant list) among them the most recent harvest, “Hickok.” This variety was purchased from Territorial Seed Company for the sole reason that I’d never grown it before. Their catalog describes it as “Open pollinated. 55-65 days. The pinnacle in quality and flavor! Hickok’s straight, 6″ deep green, stringless beans taste very fresh and sweet with floral overtones and a mellow bean flavor. Healthy, uniform, 20″ plants provide a strong canopy of foliage to protect the beans, which hang down under the leaves for easy picking by the handfuls. Very productive over a long harvest season. White seeds.”
If you note the photo, “Hickok” is a indeed a very bright green, rather waxy in appearance. They form in pairs so are easy to pick, on sturdy plants about 20″ tall so they didn’t need support. It could be the weather conditions (very hot and dry although I watered) but all the beans were very narrow at the top inch or so, and they weren’t entirely stringless. Compared to all the other varieties this season, they were short (that’s a regular credit card to give a size comparison) and none came close to the 6″ described by the catalog. I was a bit late picking due to travel, so beans had formed but the pods were still tender. Most disappointing was the flavor, which was lacking, as in no flavor at all. This is the first bean variety that received a “thumbs down” and won’t be grown in the potager again. Space is at a premium, and crops must earn the right to be there!
herbalblessingsblog 
It’s always so disappointing when a plant doesn’t live up to it’s reputation. I don’t grow beans anymore. I always had good intentions, but when it would get so hot, I’d lose interest in my garden and not want to pick them or preserve them. So, I’m learning that flowers bring so much more joy than my veg did.
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I enjoy my flowers, too, but growing food is more interesting to me right now. I can’t imagine not having my own produce all summer, and love looking at the rows of jars ready for winter. The Hickok beans were disappointing, after their catalog description, but on the other hand, the “Velour” more than matched their hype! It’s all part of the fun of growing!
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Don’t you just hate it when these things happen. And we never know who’s fault it is.
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No fault. Could be just a matter of personal “taste” or lack of….as in I don’t taste all the “notes” described on a wine either. But compared to the other varieties, they just weren’t as uniform or tasty. That means I can try another variety next year…whee!
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Like Cindy, I’ve nearly given up growing veg. It always seems to be a feast or a famine, and there seems to be a lot of disappointment too, when plants don’t thrive and you’ve no idea why.
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Thanks for the post. I appreciate your detail. Almost every seed I grew this year was specifically selected – similar to your approach with this seed. Some of mine have been busts, but I have already told myself that I will give the seed-type two seasons (maybe a little more sun; maybe a better companion) and then I’m on to the next variety.
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Hmmm. Two strikes and you’re out approach. I will probably plant the Hickok seed that is leftover, just because I hate to throw any seed away, so it will get a second chance I suppose. Thanks for reading and responding.
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