Celebrating the Year of the Snake!

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Celebrating the Year of the Snake!

February 10, 2013 by Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

Happy Chinese New Year!

Today marks the start of the Year of the Snake, and I’m sure it’s going to be a great one for us, because we’ve finally managed to grow Snake beans in our garden!

These are my favourite vegetable in the whole world. When I was growing up, I would beg my mother to allow us to eat these every night during their short season. To this day, she’ll still cook them whenever it’s a special occasion, just for me.

This is our third attempt to grow these beans, and the first time we’ve succeeded. The problem is that they require warm ground temperatures in order to germinate, and our first attempts to sow them directly didn’t result in a single seedling.

At the end of last year, lovely Linda sent us some of her seeds and we were able to raise half a dozen robust seedlings in our heated propagation tray. These were planted out near the garage in a sheltered location that faces south-west – probably not the ideal spot, but the only one we had available at the time.

Despite the bonkers weather we’ve had recently (46C days followed by torrential downpours), the plants have grown…and grown…

Every morning, their gorgeous orchid-like flowers open – they’re the largest bean flowers I’ve ever seen…

Each flower results in TWO long snake beans (occasionally three)…

This is the third bunch we’ve harvested in the last week! As Linda pointed out in her recent post, they’re heavy croppers…

After harvesting the beans last week, Pete and I stopped in at Flemington Markets – we’re don’t go very often anymore, as we don’t need to buy as much these days. I couldn’t resist this 3kg box of gorgeous jewel-like capsicums for just $8.

When we got home, we were delighted to discover that they were actually extra large jalapeños..

Dinner that night was a stir-fry of Snake beans, sliced jalapeños, onions, Australian garlic and diced prosciutto, seasoned with oyster sauce.

I think eating Snake beans is a very auspicious way to celebrate the Year of the Snake! Hope it’s a happy one for all of you! ♥

Posted in Garden, Recipes | 69 Comments

69 Responses

on February 10, 2013 at 12:09 am Christine (Food Wine Travel)

Hi Celia, Congratulations for persevering and finally succeeding in growing your favourite vegetable. It looks like a great crop – I’m envious! And the dish looks yummy too.
- on February 10, 2013 at 9:43 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Chris, my friend Brian grows Snake Beans in Canberra! I have no idea how he manages it – I always thought they were a tropical plant! :)
on February 10, 2013 at 12:18 am Norma Chang

Happy year of the Snake. Wishing you and your family a healthy, prosperous and bountiful snake beans year.
Glad your 3rd try growing snake beans was a success. The beauty with this bean is that the more frequently you harvest the more it produces. Your dish looks so tasty.
- on February 10, 2013 at 9:45 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Norma, thank you! Gong Xi Fa Cai! I can’t tell you how overjoyed I am every time I walk outside and see all the snake beans growing! :)
  - on February 10, 2013 at 11:33 am Norma Chang
    
    Oh, I forgot to mention there is also a red colored one, referred to as red noodles bean, I did a post last year, here is the link: http://gardentowok.wordpress.com/2012/08/03/chinese-long-beans-vigna-unguiculata-subsp-sesquipedalis/
    - on February 10, 2013 at 3:13 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
      
      Norma, that’s fantastic – I’ve never seen the red ones before! Thank you! (And sorry I missed your post when you first blogged about it!)
on February 10, 2013 at 12:20 am Tandy

Those flowers are amazing! Happy Chinese New Year Celia :)
- on February 10, 2013 at 9:45 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Tandy! They open for just the shortest time in the morning – I have no idea what pollinates them, or how it does it so quickly!
on February 10, 2013 at 1:11 am Debra Kolkka

I am a snake, a water snake, and this is the year of the water snake. They only come around every 60 years. This will be my second one, and I don’t suppose I will get a third.
I love snake beans! Your beans and jalapeño look delicious. I will have to make do with some fennel and pea risotto here for dinner tonight. I can’t bet enough fennel right now….and cavolo nero…I love winter in Italy.
- on February 10, 2013 at 9:46 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Deb, this is YOUR year! I’m a wood snake, so I’m not far behind you. :) Fennel and pea risotto – how glorious!
on February 10, 2013 at 1:17 am sallybr

Happy New Snake Year for you!

may your garden always be plentiful… health, love, friends, family, chicks, enough money not to worry, great food, and lots of blog posts (that one is a bit of a selfish wish….)

:-)
- on February 10, 2013 at 9:46 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thank you darling! I hope it’s a wonderful year for you and Phil too! xx
on February 10, 2013 at 1:33 am heidiannie

Happy Year of the Snake, Celia! I’m glad you have beans to make the celebration more joyful! I don’t think I’ve ever had snake green beans but they are certainly lovely. And those peppers are a treat just to look at- I really like the flavor of jalapeno peppers- although a whole basket of them would be wasted in my household!
- on February 10, 2013 at 9:48 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Heidi, thank you! We couldn’t resist the peppers, they were glowing like jewels in the box! And they’re nearly all gone now too! :)
on February 10, 2013 at 1:39 am Misky

Kung Hei Fat Choi, Celia!
- on February 10, 2013 at 9:48 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Misky! Kung Hei Fatt Choi to you too! xx
on February 10, 2013 at 1:45 am Suelle

Happy Chinese New Year to you and you family, Celia.

The beans look fantastic, and the stir fry sounds very tasty.
- on February 10, 2013 at 9:49 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Suelle, thank you! And to you and your family as well! The beans make me ludicrously happy.. :)
on February 10, 2013 at 2:14 am Glenda

Happy new year Celia. Your beans look fantastic. I hope you don’t get as many beans as I am getting cucumbers. I picked 28 today:( I love your box of chillis. What are you going to do with them all?
- on February 10, 2013 at 9:50 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Glenda, I would happily eat snake beans until they came out my ears – I’m not sure it would be possible for me to grow too many. 28 cucumbers! Our potted plants have given up the ghost, and we’ve planted new ones, so we’re between crops at the moment.
  
  The jalapenos have been turned into pickled chillies, stuffed, stir fried, and we also froze some as well!
on February 10, 2013 at 3:05 am Pat Machin

No wonder I never know what day it is! It’s still the 9th here and so not yet New Year.

But, what the heck! Happy New Year of the Snake. Those beans look good and the size of the plants is stupendous.
- on February 10, 2013 at 9:50 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Sorry to confuse you, Pat! :) Have a great year of the Snake! x
on February 10, 2013 at 5:46 am Marmaduke Scarlet

I love the simplicity of it – beautifully tasty too! Happy New Year!
- on February 10, 2013 at 9:50 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thank you! Happy New Year to you too!
on February 10, 2013 at 7:15 am EllaDee

Happy Year of the Snake. I am a Chinese Year Snake. I love snake beans also – your dinner is perfect for the celebration :) I was reading a SMH article yesterday that Snake people should wear a monkey talisman to lessen the impact of the Water Snake year, which should be milder than previous Snake years which impacted with 9/11 and also a year of tsunamis! Apparently Monkey are the only ones who can handle Snakes… more indication of why I have an fervent dislike of monkeys!
- on February 10, 2013 at 9:51 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Darling, we are Wood Snakes, or so my mother tells me (I’m sure we’re the same age), and my eldest son is a Monkey, which explains why he always runs rings around me. Mind you, I adore him for it.. :D
  - on February 10, 2013 at 12:47 pm EllaDee
    
    1965 – I’m thinking so… off the cuff I had hazarded a guess at Wood Snake… but good to have it confirmed. How wonderful, I’m in good company :)
on February 10, 2013 at 7:41 am theintolerantchef

Kung Hei Fat Choy Celia! And how lucky indeed to be enjoying such a great season of snake beans, they are so very yummy. Isn’t it a great time of year to pick up cheap boxes of produce at the markets, there is such a glut of goodies in summer. Have a great weekend sweetie xox
- on February 10, 2013 at 9:52 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Becca, thank you, Kung Hei Fatt Choi to you too! My friend Brian grows snake beans in Canberra, maybe they’re worth a try! Hard to germinate without a heated mat though!
on February 10, 2013 at 7:44 am My Kitchen Stories

Hello Celia, I think this is going to be a very interesting year, so Happy New Year!. I was delighted to see how snake beans grow,how amazing do they look? and congratulations .
- on February 10, 2013 at 9:53 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Tan, aren’t they amazing?! I couldn’t get over how prolific the plants are, and for each flower to grow two or three long beans – just wonderful! Happy Chinese New Year to you too! xx
on February 10, 2013 at 8:15 am Lizzy (Good Things)

Happy new year Celia. Snake beans are delicious and we can’t always buy them here. So great that you’re growing them now!
- on February 10, 2013 at 9:53 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Lizzy! Happy New Year to you too! As I was saying to Chris and Becca, my friend Brian grows these in Canberra, so it IS possible!
on February 10, 2013 at 8:30 am Amanda

Happy new year to you and yours Celia – and love the connection with snake beans!
- on February 10, 2013 at 9:54 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Amanda, thank you! Kung Hei Fatt Choi to you and yours too!
on February 10, 2013 at 9:30 am Eha

A Happy Year of the Snake once more and am I impressed with your beans of the same name! Beautiful stirfry!! Love those jalapenos . . . can’t believe the price! Reached for some red capsicums at Woolies a couple of days back to have my companion point at the price: $14.95 per kilo! Hmm: no!!
- on February 10, 2013 at 9:55 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Eha, thank you! Kung Hei Fatt Choi! Aren’t red caps an outrageous price? That was why we jumped on the box so quickly! :)
on February 10, 2013 at 9:48 am rose

A happy year of the snake from all of us to all of you!
- on February 10, 2013 at 9:54 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Rose, thank you!! Happy New Year, hope it’s glorious for all of us! x
on February 10, 2013 at 10:23 am Le Petit Potager

Celia, happy year of the snake……..what a way to celebrate with all those gorgeous beans and jalapeños.
I’m growing kefir at about the same rate as your beans.
- on February 10, 2013 at 3:14 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Elaine, it sounds like you’re really having great success with the kefir! Hope the scones go well! x
on February 10, 2013 at 11:56 am ChgoJohn

Well, apparently the 3rd try is the char, at least when it comes to snake beans. What a fantastic looking set of plants, Celia! And that dish of snake beans with jalapeños looks delicious, a great way to ring in the Year of the Snake. Have a happy New Year!
- on February 10, 2013 at 3:15 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  John, thank you! Happy Chinese New Year to you too! The snake beans are big in Italian cuisine too, aren’t they? I remember Mrs M used to grow them (so I always knew it was possible in theory – made it easy to keep trying!). :)
on February 10, 2013 at 12:38 pm Emilie@TheCleverCarrot

I was wondering what kind of flower that was. It’s beautiful! I’m happy to hear that you’ve had success with your snake bean crop. What an auspicious way to celebrate indeed!
PS- Love the prosciutto in the stir-fry…
- on February 10, 2013 at 3:15 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Emilie! We do the whole fusion thing in a big way..hahaha
on February 10, 2013 at 1:19 pm thefoodsage

Awfully envious of your snake bean vine – which is looking a little Jack and the Beanstalk’ish! I’ve just composted half a bunch of snake beans which had blacked over the past week. They’re always sold in quite large bunches, and i never need that much. I’d love to be able to harvest as much as i required from my own garden – or the community garden. I will have to read up on Linda’s posts to see how she does it. A brilliant post and great start to the new year for you guys. Well done.
- on February 10, 2013 at 3:16 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Rachel, I’ll try and bring you some next time! We’re hoping to collect seed, so I’ll ask Pete to get some for you. Linda’s blog is just wonderful! x
on February 10, 2013 at 1:43 pm Kari @ bite-sized thoughts

Happy Chinese New Year Celia! And your garden is looking incredible – I’m very impressed :)
- on February 10, 2013 at 3:16 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Kari! Happy Chinese New Year to you too! :)
on February 10, 2013 at 2:13 pm leaf (the indolent cook)

Such beautiful fresh produce, that stir-fry looks awesome! Happy New Year!! :)
- on February 10, 2013 at 3:17 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thank you! Happy Chinese New Year to you too! It’s been a wonderful one so far, spending lots of time with family!
on February 10, 2013 at 7:05 pm Jane @ Shady Baker

Well done Celia, these look magnificent! The flowers are so pretty too.
- on February 10, 2013 at 7:10 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Jane! Have you ever tried growing these? They’re just so fabulous – we had more for dinner tonight! :)
on February 10, 2013 at 8:37 pm Jo Smith

I was given a bag of snake bean seeds yesterday but neither of us made the year of the snake connection. Hope mine are as successful as yours!
- on February 11, 2013 at 7:42 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Jo, the trick seems to be in raising the seedlings – our ground temps never got high enough for direct sowing! Good luck with yours! :)
on February 10, 2013 at 8:58 pm Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella

I’ve seen those jalapenos in the stores and wanted so much to buy them but was more thinking to stuff, batter and deep fry them. Your solution sounds much better for you! :D
- on February 11, 2013 at 7:43 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Lorraine, we did stuff them with rice and mince and bake them, and they were divine!
on February 10, 2013 at 9:21 pm hotlyspiced

Happy Year of the Snake to you Celia. I love the look of your snake beans. They look so perfect and those flowers are gorgeous. My mother has a recipe for using snake beans in a salad and she would make this salad every Christmas. She would be very tense as the calendar clocked over to Christmas as snake beans were never easy to source and there was high tension always as to whether she would be able to make her salad. She should have grown them! xx
- on February 11, 2013 at 7:44 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Charlie, thank you! Happy New Year to you too! Your mum should definitely try growing them – although we’re only picking them now! Might be too late for Christmas! :)
on February 11, 2013 at 3:18 am thecompletecookbook

Happy Chinese New Year Celia – your snake beans are awesome!
:-) Mandy xo
- on February 11, 2013 at 7:43 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Mandy! Happy New Year to you too! xx
on February 11, 2013 at 10:42 am Claire @ Claire K Creations

It sounds like the perfect start of the year to me Celia. How magnificent your vines look! I haven’t seen bean flowers like that before. When I’ve grown beans the flowers have been so tiny they’re hardly noticeable.
- on February 12, 2013 at 7:03 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Claire, these are the largest bean flowers I’ve ever seen! They’re like small orchids! They should grow well in Brissie!
on February 11, 2013 at 10:07 pm Jan

We celebrated with some Chinese friends and their family on Saturday night. I love the drumming and lion dancers and the philosophy attached to the food. Your jalapeños look appropriately like fire crackers! So Happy New Year Celia, I’m glad it’s your year. Enjoy your beans – they are very beautiful.
- on February 12, 2013 at 7:04 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Jan, thank you! We’ve been eating snake beans every other day – and a big bunch each time! I can’t believe how prolifically they grow! x
on February 12, 2013 at 7:28 am marilynscottwaters

Happy New Year! And I’m glad to live ina world where people find vegetables crave worthy. :-) Maz
- on February 12, 2013 at 7:32 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Maz! Oh how I crave snake beans! We’ve been eating them every other day lately, and I never seem to tire of them! xx
on February 13, 2013 at 3:48 am Kate

Hope I’m not too late to wish you a safe, happy and prosperous new year!
- on February 13, 2013 at 4:17 am Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Kate, thank you! Happy Chinese New Year to you and yours too! CNY actually goes for 15 days, so definitely not too late! :)