In article ,
Omelet wrote:

In article
,
Isabella Woodhouse wrote:

Out picking beans yesterday, I noted the appearance of three huge fungi,
one at the inner base of each pole, on one "teepee" of my pole beans.
This is the first I noticed them so I have no idea how long they've been
there. Seems like it can't be too long since I pick beans at least
every other day. I've searched and searched but cannot seem to find a
pictorial database of fungi so I can identify these critters. They are
a mottled ecru and light adobe color and look similar to those oyster
fungi in that they are kind of layered. But I can't be sure what (or
why) they are since I can't seem to find a large library of pics for
comparison.

The beans are great and don't seem to be affected--- yet anyway. It is
interesting that they are growing at the base of each pole. The beans
on this particular pole are mostly rattlesnake beans but I can't imagine
the relevance. I wonder if it is some kind of symbiotic relationship.
They are so large, I fear spading them out will ruin the roots of my
bean plants. One is a good 9 inches in diameter. And I can't take a
pic right now since my DH has the camera and is away on business.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

Mushroom growth is a sign of very healthy soil. I personally enjoy
seeing them almost as much as wildflowers in all their form and beauty.
:-)

Are the bases of your bean teepees wood? If so, they are probably
feeding off of _that_, not your beans.

Yes the 10 foot stakes are wood. I suspect you are right. The fungi
are very hard, woody. And weird.

If the beans look good, enjoy and ignore them!

Gosh have we had nice beans this year. I've already frozen over 25# and
put up some as dilly beans in addition to eating them fresh in some form
nearly every day. Our black-eyed peas are ripening now so that'll be
fun.

Isabella
--
"I will show you fear in a handful of dust"
-T.S. Eliot