borlotti beans

[greenscrump]

hi all

I want to try these next year but there seem to be lots of varieties to choose from - what do you grow and where do you get them ??

cheers  :)

[greenscrump]

[Barnowl]

I haven't tried them before, but have bought Borlotto Lamon  - a climbing version - from Seeds of Italy for 2008.  Have more seeds than I need, so PM me if it's a variety you'd like to try and I'll send you some.

[greenscrump]

thanks Barnowl - most kind  ;D will PM

Is there anything you might like? I have too many Golden Sweet mange tout and Cupidon dwarf french bean from Real Seeds, if you'd like to try and loads of others which need sorting out...... :-[

[davee52uk]

Despite the Summer, I grew quite a lot of these this year. I bought Berlotti seeds from the usual suppliers and grew them as runner beans. The only problems I had were:

  (a) Stopping deer eating the young shoots.

  (b) Stopping slugs eating plants.

  (c) Leaving the beans to go seed - they are very nice as pod beans and very colourful.


However it well worthwhile leabing them to go to seed as they are beautiful to eat either in salads or added to stews. Next year I'm growing to grow loads of them - probably twice as many as runners.

[legendaryone]

I too will be growing a lot more next year, we grew half a dozen plants this year and we loved the colour and taste of them.  :)

[greenscrump]

thanks davee52 and legendaryone, I'm getting really excited about the new season  ;D ;D

[alipally]

Last year I grew Thomson & Morgan Fagoli Nani Splendido.  They are a bush variety and I intended to shell them and just use the beans but they were so delicious used young as runner beans that I had none left to shell.  I'll try to be more patient this year.

[adrianhumph]

 Hi greenscrump,  :D
                                We used barlotta lingua di fuoco, (try saying that at midnight on new years eve)  :o They came from Kings seeds , but are available from many sources. Some people let these mature fully & dry them. We like to let them ripen & pick them fresh, pod them , then freeze them. They can then be used in stews & soups & do not need any soaking or lengthy cooking time. Happy growing  ;D

                                                                      Adrian.

[Barnowl]

Despite the Summer, I grew quite a lot of these this year. I bought Berlotti seeds from the usual suppliers and grew them as runner beans.

Hi Davee, what spacing between plants did you use ?

[louise stella]

I grew the low growing variety and they were great!

We loved them in the pod and as shelled beans - which I froze!

But on balence I think they are best eaten fresh, sliced thinly, steamed, with salt, pepper and butter!

Yum!

Louise