Beans are an important crop and a diet staple. We probably do not realise how important they are. It seems that all great civilisations and densities of population have relied on growing one or more species of bean in their various guises. High in a variety of valuable amino acids, beans also fix nitrogen in the soil and help sustain surrounding vegetable crops. Grown on trellis, bean poles or on pergolas, they also provide light shade and shelter to a vegetable garden, which is very important in warmer climates where the summer sun can be desiccating to some crops.

Snake bean, long bean (Vigna unguicula var. sequipedalis)
You will certainly have seen this bean at a fruit shop or markets over the summer months, particularly if you shop where there is a large Asian community in the area. You will also have eaten it if you have visited Asia or a local Asian restaurant. The snake bean is thought to be of Asian origin, having bean developed from the cowpea, a plant of African origin.

The beans are distinguished by their length – anywhere from 300mm to 1m in length. The beans are also noticeable for their rounded shape and bubbly irregular surface.

Mother Nature evolved the white sapote to appease fruit-aholics who wanted an all encompassing fruit that combines the tropical tastes of custard apple/banana with the temperate flavours of peach/pear and the smooth creamy buttery texture of a good avocado. White sapote replicates its tropical to temperate tastes in its growing range adapting well anywhere coastally from North Queensland to South Australia and Western Australia.

You will not find white sapote in the shops as they have a paper-thin green/yellow inedible skin and are not an elegant fruit. While it may lack appearance, this highly undervalued fruit more than makes up for that in taste with its moist banana/custard-like flesh mixed with vanilla ice cream flavours.

Magazine Feature: recommended graft selection table.