Supreme Scarlet Emperor Beans – My story with these lavender and deep purple, graphically complex beans began last year when a garden friend sent me a packet. This friend happens to have five acres in the San Juan Islands to grow a garden as he pleases (where I have to cram everything into about 300 square feet!), so I shared half my gifted seeds with a garden friend.
And, that’s not all he sent: King Stropharia spawn, bare roots of comfrey, Desert fig and more, plus, Jerusalem Artichokes, and salsify and amaranth seeds. (See photos here.) Seeds are a gift that keep on giving. Guess what? Scarlet Emperor are so-named because of the blooms, not the beans! I’ve only grown beans with white or pale pink flowers, so these scarlet blooms are show-stoppers!
As often happens in the Late Bloomer garden, my beans fell victim to powdery mildew, more on this in my end-of-season bean episode. (Look for that in the coming weeks.) But, was it worth the effort? Absolutely! And when the scarlet blooms started appearing on my one short row, I quickly ordered more seeds, and planted them around a hastily improvised teepee trellis.
Though I only harvested about 15 dried pods from the teepee trellis (about three pods per vine), it’s still been a learning experience. There are between three and six beans situated in roomy velvety pods, five being the most popular number.
Seed size varied widely, which I’m assuming has something to do with irregular watering and how close the roots were to a hole in the irrigation drip line! Out of the 90+ seeds, I selected 15 for replanting next year.
YES, I will give it another try, and this time I will harvest the beans fresh from the pods, so they don’t linger long months on the trellis to attract mildew spores. And I haven’t shelled the pods from the nylon trellis.
Altogether, I think I’ll be able to make one pot of chili. I was told they make the best chili beans! And, if you are in a warm climate like mine you can plant in March for an early June harvest and August for a late September harvest. Some folks grow these supreme Scarlet Emperor Beans just for a screen of pretty red-orange flowers. Get a start on spring beans and order yours now!
I’m always looking for dried matter for my kitchen composter, so these dried pods are perfect! They break down faster if cut into one inch pieces.
Let me know what you would like to see on Late Bloomer episodes in Season 5, more of what’s growing in my front yard, or more interviews with other people, or both? Thanks for your support! – Kaye
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