Best learn what is a bean and what is a cowpea before you start them. Red Noodle is a cowpea. Trail of Tears is a pole bean.

DarJones

Interesting - does that mean the red noodle will not climb like the pole bean? Whoops, that means a totally different planting method, doesn't it? Is there any other difference with the red noodle?

Red Noodle will climb similar to a pole bean. It is a yardlong bean which is a subspecies of cowpea. Otherwise, the way they are prepared and pests and diseases that hit them are different.

DarJones

I'm also growing Red Noodles this year for the first time. I plan to use these in stir-frys, but you have a great idea about pickling them. Think I'll try a few jars myself. Thanks for the idea.

Yard beans are cow peas, they can be pickled immature(drinking straw size) like asparagus,cut to size of jar & stand up in jar. They can be snapped to 1 inch & pickled or frozen. You can let them mature & shell them like beans, but they taste different or let them dry on the vine.
I have done more with standard Field peas, but they taste the same to me.

thanks, jolj, that helps me a lot. Although I grow tomaotes and squash every year, this is my first year of growing beans. I'm a pickle fanatic and love a three bean salad pickle. I planted KY Wonder, a yellow wax, and a red french bean. Then I discovered the french bean would turn green when cooked. That got me started looking for a bean that would stay red, and hopefully, the red noodle will fill that spot.

Back to the Cherokee TofT pole bean. I do love black beans. I'm pictureing a 4 bean pickle, by adding not the pods, but the actualy black beans to the mix. Often there are red kidney beans in such a pickle mix, but I think the black beans would look and taste great. Sooooo..... Do I have to dry the black beans and cook them later, or can I just pick the pods, open them and add the beans to the mix? If they are 'raw' as oposed to dry and then cooked, how long do they need to be cooked would you think?

Sounds wonderful, Please show us a pic of the canning jar full of you 4 bean pickle & a recipe.
I have only the Southern standard & know very little about most beans. I have pickled a little, mostly peppers with onions & garlic.