Bella Trix, the true "rice bean" is Vigna umbellata; but it is a tropical bean that is not often found in the U.S. It is a rampant climbing vine, but it is also daylength-sensitive, and will not flower until September - meaning that it will not have time to ripen seed in northern latitudes. The flowers are yellow, and the seeds are short & closely resemble adzuki beans. The seeds of true rice bean can be identified by their very long hilum.

But most beans sold as "rice beans" in the U.S. are either Phaseolus vulgaris (common beans) or rarely, Vigna unguiculata (cowpeas). Of the two, I would guess that the beans you describe are most likely common beans... and most likely bush varieties, though it is hard to be certain without knowing the variety name. If you wish to inoculate your seeds before planting, use the "garden combo" or "bean" inoculant.

Wow...so these are just really little regular beans? I put the calypso beans next to them to give an idea of the size. From the enlarged picture, you can see why they're called falcon beans.

Sigh. I was hoping they were a different species so I wouldn't have to bag their blossoms, too. I see many, many little reemay bags in my future.

Thanks!
Bellatrix

The green beans on the right side of the photo appear to be a "flageolet" variety; most of them are green-seeded. If so, they are excellent baking beans - and very good as green shelled beans, though it would take forever to get a bowlful. Both varieties do, indeed, appear to be common beans.

Depending upon the size of your lot & the total number of beans you intend to grow, they may not require as much isolation as you think. If you are able to have one garden on each side of your lot (and/or one in front) and grow only one bean per plot for seed, that should be adequate. Barring that, if you can separate them by 10 feet or more (with tall flowers or flowering vegetables between) you should have minimal crossing. More distance would be better, at least for the year that you first save seed... but do the best you can.

I have grown bush beans in cages for seed; but if you choose to do so, screen works better than floating row cover. The row cover maintains too much humidity within the cage; good for peppers, but bad for beans - it promotes disease.

Thanks, Zeedman, for the info - that's great! If I can get the above ground pool sold quickly enough, I might be able to separate them by distance/flowers this year. If not, definitely in the future when I'm not trying out so many new beans. It's a brand new garden in a completely new growing zone and I just can't resist trying out a bunch of different beans. Do you think the across-the-yard method would work for yardlong beans? I only have two varieties that I'm planning on growing.

If I do have to go to bagging the individual blossoms, do you think I should use Tulle (bridal veil stuff) instead of reemay? Any thoughts on how big the bags should be? I have time to sew now that I definitely won't have in the summer.

Thanks for the help,
Bellatrix

Yardlongs (which botanically are climbing cowpeas) do not appear to cross easily. I grow at least 3 varieties each year, using the distance + barrier crop method; they are separated by about 50 feet, with trellises of beans, limas, runner beans, or other flowering crops between. So far, I have yet to have a cross... so planting on opposite sides of the yard should work, especially if there are plentiful flowers between them.

"Tulle" - now there's an idea! I have been looking for an alternative to the spun-polyester floating row covers (like Remay) and the light-transparent screen, which is fairly expensive. I will need to do some research; I don't know the mesh sizes available, or what widths it comes in, or how durable it is... but it certainly sounds promising. I'm likely to get some funny looks buying it, though. (lol)

If the insects will be unable to penetrate the fabric & it allows sufficient airflow to prevent solar heating, it should work. My only reservation is that I believe it is rather stiff... but that could turn out to be a good thing. It might work well for bean cages. Only one way to find out, I suppose... and I will be experimenting with it this summer. Thanks for the idea!

>"It's a brand new garden in a completely new growing zone and I just can't resist trying out a bunch of different beans."As one legumaniac to another, I understand completely! ;-)