I think the flagolets are at their best as mature-green beans, on the brink of drying. They're very low maintenance, but not nearly as productive as October (Taylor's horticultural) beans, which we plant after garlic in summer. For shellies, I really like the old-time half-runner snaps like White State Half Runner and Mountaineer. They will run 6-8 feet, with short pods. They get strings by the time they reach the shelly stage, but they zip right off. I grow them up sweet corn at the ends of the rows.

Yes, Michael, I have the magic powder. I use half strength Miracle Gro, (gen.purpose) on the bean seedlings. When they get half grown I use half strength bloom booster once or twice, then that's it. Keep them well watered. The pictured beans were planted Feb. 28th in the original garden site. The remaining varieties didn't get planted until March 6th because they are in the new addition which wasn't ready until then. The pole beans are behind with only tiny beans, but they are supposed to be later season beans. All of the March 6th beans have half grown beans on them. Tom-- OK, I'll be watching for your Rattlesnake harvest next fall. I have some Kentucky Wonder pole beans growing. They seem to be the latest with only flowers for the last couple of weeks. I expect a harvest from them very early May which would put them at the 60 day harvest time. Silvia--my great gardening an excellent cook friend! I would love to prepare your recipe for "Three Bean Salad". I have one but I bet yours is better. Hi Cora, Your recipe sounds good and easy to fix. I have TONS of beans coming, so I will fix some your way. PLEASE KEEP THE RECIPES COMING! Christine

Most all the ingredients you are wanting to add are things that are normally added at serving preparation time, NOT when canning the food. You are over-complicating the process and causing confusion for yourself. The end result may not be edible or safe. Until you gain more understanding of the processes involved in canning you really need to limit yourself to canning the basic foods and NOT adding all these other things or making all these substitutions. Stick to the recipe. Can the carrots plain and add all the other things when you cook them to eat. Same for the beans. Make VERY sure you understand Carol's point that other vegetables are NOT spices. Dried spices come in spice jars and can be used but only in small amounts or they will ruin the whole jar of food. Mixing other vegetables with your beans or carrots forces you to use the other instructions for Mixed Vegetables, NOT the instructions for canning carrots or canning beans and there are restrictions. Dave

That is basicly it Dean. Just remember to remove the string from both sides of the bean. Some folks who really hate strings may peel down both sides of the pod with a paring knife. Hard to get them all no matter how you do it. I like the flavor of string beans, but my wife is completly turned off when she encounters a string and refuses to eat them.