Borlotti beans have to be one of the prettiest legumes I’ve ever grown, the pods and beans are equally beautiful. The pink splashed pods really brighten up the veg patch and look almost exotic. Cook and eat them as you would for french or runner beans, I chose to leave mine a little longer before picking, allowing them to dry in the greenhouse spread out on a rack in their pods. This way the beans will store for a few months until I need to use them. They should be soaked overnight before cooking if used dry.
This is the first time I’ve grown borlotti, the seed packet instructions said to support them as I would for runner beans so naturally I expected them to climb tall. I planted them within a cane wigwam but it wasn’t needed, they grow pretty much the same way as dwarf french beans and support themselves pretty well. No harm done, at least I know better for next year.
Mo
/ October 10, 2011I love borlotti beans :) We grew a climbing variety this year and I’m happier with them that the low growing ones. `
elaine rickett
/ October 10, 2011As you say they are exotic looking – I didn’t grow any this year – now I wish I had.
Karen
/ October 10, 2011That’s interesting Mo, I assumed mine would climb. I didn’t realise there were low growing ones! I will look out for the climbing variety for next year.
Hi Elaine, they’re really pretty beans!
wellywoman
/ October 11, 2011I’ve grown a climbing variety too but they weren’t very prolific. My site is very exposed so I think I’m going to go for a lot of dwarf varieties next year anyway. My green beans were quite bruised and battered by September.
cityandthemountains
/ October 11, 2011Nice crop! We grew the dwarf variety as well. We had a good crop but the pods went moldy really quickly after picking them. I wanted to leave them in the pods for a bit to dry, I guess our house is too damp. Also grew Yin-Yang beans, similar thing happened; managed to eat quite a few though.
Do you know how to preserve them as seeds for next season?
Take it ez,
Terry
Jason
/ October 17, 2011Grew some myself this year too but although they looked good I must admit that I didn’t pick and use many of them (unlike the runner beans which made it on to the plate most nights) so I might not do them again next year. They are dry as a bone now though so I will have seed should I want to grow them again any without the need to purchase more. Jason.
Mark Willis
/ October 21, 2011I too have had a climbing variety – “Lingua di Fuoco” – which grows very tall and definitely needs support. [Lots of pics of them on my blog too] They are so photogenic that it’s hard to stop photographing them! This year I have not eaten the pods young, but have left them to mature for drying. They’ll be great in a pork casserole in about February. :-)
Flighty
/ October 25, 2011They’re both pretty and tasty!
As others have said there are both climbing and dwarf varieties. I grow the former as I do runner beans and French climbing beans, often side by side along the same row of canes.
Karen
/ October 26, 2011Now, this is very strange. I have looked at the seed packet again and the variety ( Lingua di Fuoco ) is the same one that Mark has mentioned above. The packet has ‘Climbing Bean’ across the front. So, I wonder why mine grew like dwarf beans??!!
I got a good crop so I’m not complaining, just a tad confused!
Carole Jones
/ May 10, 2012I had the same problem last year. I complained to Thompson and Morgan who sent more seed. The new ones seened to have stopped putting on height too…..
Karen
/ May 10, 2012Thanks for your comment, Carole. Very interesting that yours did the same thing, I did think I was going mad for a while! I will have another go with last years seed and see how they go.