Which beans to try?

[si'sraisedbed]

Hi all,
Last year I grew a climbing french bean up the same wigwam as runner beans. The french bean swamped the runners so ended up with very few runners and loads of French. Is this normal?

Also want to try growing some beans for drying for the winter, what varieties are recommended? Would like them to look interesting stored in jars also if that's not too much to ask....

Thanks.

[zazen999]

I grow a few:
Broadies to start with
Purple french bean to keep me going through the summer
trying the Cherokee Trail of Tears, which are shooting up in the kitchen as we speak [grew 2 inches since yesterday].
Trying coco sophie flat french bean, which look like they go over to thick white beans for storage
Borlotto Fagiolo - these are the speckled red beans; great for the jars.
Sultana bean, again sees me through the summer. These never last to make beans for storage, perhaps this year...

Don't forget pinto beans, which are also specked and are fabulous in any mexican food; we use these exclusively now for chillis - have ditched kidney beans totally. Might try planting a few of these and see what happens as I have loads of these in the store cupboard.

I grow mine, as everything, by starting a few off, then sowing over several weeks; so that I extend the crop as much as possible.

[Birdie Wife]

I'm trying a few black turtle beans this year (c/o wellie, via Hazel, thanks Haze!), I tried a few from the supermarket in a chilli instead of kidney beans and they were totally fabulicious. There's a thread on here somewhere about yin/yang beans which look interesting if you've got the right climate.

[Flummery]

I grow yin-yang in Yorkshire - they aren't at all fussy.

[Cutecumber]

si'sraised bed - it is quite unusual to grow french beans with runner beans, in fact I don't think I've ever read or heard of it before.

Frenchies are less worried about soil conditions and are quicker off the mark, so this is probably why you found they swamped the runners.

Grow them separately next time, I suggest.

For drying purposes, try the Borlotti Lingua di Fuoco ("fire-tongue") but make sure you know whether it is the dwarf or climbing variety - they carry the same name. It is a type of french bean.

[smallblueplanet]

We've previously grown runners up one half a wigwam and haricot up the other, no problem. Maybe it was the variety of runner? Can't help there as I don't really like them.

As for mangetout haricot, try Blue Lake, Cobra, Blauhilde (purple), Goldfield (flat, yellow) - very prolific. BL & Blau are v. tasty pod & haricot, Cobra is okay as haricot, goldfield doesn't seem to form many beans.

We don't get enough to dry our haricot and I prefer the taste of them fresh or frozen.

[si'sraisedbed]

Thanks guys, it was just an experiment really, obviously did not work. Not mad keen on runner either, will try different varietiyes on same wigwam maybe. Usually use Blue Lake and get massive crop, enough to feed us from 2 or 3 plants.

Will def try Borlotti Lingua di Fuoco, sound very exciting, are they available from GC or only mail order?

[smallblueplanet]

You can lots of different varieties of Borlotto from Seeds of Italy. They also can be bought in some GCs.

[kentvegplot]

Last year grew 'Soissons' which has green or white beans - you can treat it as a haricot or keep it for drying as I did.

Also a heritage variety called 'Blue and white'....the name might give you an idea of colour of the beans. Very fetching in a glass jar.

[si'sraisedbed]

Thanks, I'll have a look for those too, I don't have the biggest plot, only about 1m x 3m raised in the back garden (that's all the lawn I was allowed to take over!!) Has anyone grown these in pots?? Would that work?

[Flummery]

I've grown climbing frenchies in a big pot (about 2ft across) with a wigwam set in it. Modest but delicious crops. Watering is your key here.

[si'sraisedbed]

Last question then, I know I won't be doing this bit for a while but what's the best way to dry them?

[Flummery]

I leave mine on the vine till they go pale buff coloured and then let them finish off on the greenhouse staging till they're crisp. Then you can have a happy time sitting in the sun popping the pods (and chasing them all over the place!)

[crichmond]

I have some spare butter beans if you fancy growing some.
If you want some seeds pm me your address and I will pop some in the post.

Cheers Chris

[si'sraisedbed]

I always thought that if I leave the pods on the plant then the plant will not need to produce any more as the plants aim in life is to produce seeds to reproduce. If I leave them on the plant will I get a lower yeild??

Thanks for offer crichmond, will send address.