Hi I quit growing vanilla due to the rampant growth,Seems to be necessary never got a flower until round 10 feet of growth even then it was a shy bloomer. I found the variagated form less hardy in all respects to the green plainifolia. They are very easy to root by almost any method but if you really want flowers you'll have to allow it to run rampant . As long as it's warm and humid they are happy.. My main objection was they took up way to much space. gary

OK, it was just re-posted by request July 19, but here it is again: APRICOT AND VANILLA JAM Makes three to four 1-cup jars 2 1/2 pounds apricots 3 3/4 cups sugar 1 cup water 2 vanilla beans, split in half Juice of 1 small lemon 1. Pick: Only perfect and perfectly ripe apricots will do. 2. Array: Assemble your tools: Copper jam pan or other medium-sized heavy low stockpot, canner or large stock pot, ceramic bowl, skimmer, wooden spoon, ladle, sieve, jar-lifter, tongs, candy thermometer, timer, parchment paper, clean dish towel, 4 1-cup Mason jars plus new lids, bands and labels. 3. Macerate: Rinse apricots in cold water. Cut them in half; discard pits. Mix apricots, sugar, water, vanilla beans and lemon juice in the bowl. Cover with parchment paper, pressing gently so paper touches fruit. Refrigerate 1 hour. 4. Simmer: Scrape apricot mixture into the jam pan. Bring to a simmer. Pour back into bowl. Press on parchment paper and refrigerate overnight. 5. Sterilize: Next day, wash jars, bands and lids. Set aside bands. Put lids in a small saucepan. Simmer 5 minutes. Let lids sit in hot water. Set jars in a stockpot. Fill pot with water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil, boil 10 minutes. Let jars sit in hot water. 6. Boil: Set the sieve over the jam pan. Pour apricot mixture through the sieve. Remove and discard apricot skins; set aside apricot halves. Bring accumulated juices to a boil. Skim thoroughly and continue cooking on high heat until syrup reaches 220 degrees on the candy thermometer. Add the reserved apricot halves. Bring to a boil again and cook 5 minutes. Continue to skim carefully and stir gently. Remove the vanilla beans and cut into 2-inch lengths. 7. Fill: Use jar-lifter to grab 1 jar in its hot water bath. Tilt to empty, carefully. Ladle hot jam into hot jar, right up to the top. Add a length of vanilla bean. Wipe top edge with a clean damp cloth. Use tongs to set 1 hot lid on top. Screw on band. Turn jar upside down to seal and cool.* Fill the rest of jars in the same way, one at a time. 8. Store: When cool, check that the lids are concave, indicating a good seal. Label and store on a cool, dark shelf up to 1 year. -Adapted from "Mes Confitures" by Christine Ferber *The USDA considers inversion canning inferior to this boiling-water process: Follow the recipe above, leaving 1/4-inch headroom in jars. Wipe rim, set on lid, screw band finger-tight. Keep jars upright. Transfer to a canner and process 5 minutes. Lacking canner, set a round cooling rack or several inverted ring bands in the bottom of a stockpot. Fill pot with water. Bring to a boil. Using a jar-lifter, lower filled, sealed jars into the pot until submerged by 1 inch. Cover pot. When water returns to a boil, time 5 minutes. Lift out jars. Cool. Store up to 1 year. For details and high-altitude adjustments, see homefoodpreservation.com. Carol

I have done that -- several times. I dumped the beans out to strain off the last bit of liquid and add it to another jar. Looking at the beans closer, about 2/3-3/4 of them looked like they'd seen their better days, so I decided to retire them. I didn't want to use them for food, but I could still use a couple to make some salt scrub and see how I like it. If I decide to make any for holiday gifts, I'll start with some of my new beans. I'm still interested in knowing if there other ideas for them. I have a couple of other jars brewing nd will eventually get to a similar point with them. This post was edited by lascatx on Sun, Sep 14, 14 at 18:57

1.) Favorite COLOR: all of them 2.) Favorite SEASON:autumn 3.) Favorite HOLIDAY: thanksgiving 4.) Favorite ANIMAL: ocelot 5.) Favorite FLOWER: Aquilegia apparently because I keep buying seeds. First it was A. vulgaris 'Barlow Blue', then it was A. caerula, now it's A. vulgaris 'Magpie' and A. hybrida 'Spring Navy and Blue' (this plant doesn't even bloom very long? I'm an idiot.) I still want A. canadensis. UGH! 6.) Favorite FRUIT: dark, ripe cherries 7.) Coffee or Tea: coffee 8.)Vanilla or Chocolate: chocolate 9.)Fries or Onion rings: both equally 10.)Pancakes or Waffles: waffles 11.) Shower or Bubble Bath: both (take showers, but I wish I had a bath) 12.) Early Bird or Night Owl: early bird 13.) Beach or Mountains: beach!!!!!!! 14.) TV or Movie: both (apples and oranges) 15.) The hardest decision: Would you rather: A.) Eat what you want and not gain weight or B.) Never work and have all the money you want.: both (why choose it's all fantasy)