Pink Beans (Firetongue?)

[Ilikepumpkins]

Has anyone grown those pink climbing beans with an Italian name (also called Firetongue I think)? I have a fairly good crop, but am not sure what to do with them - I only grew them to try to get some interest from my daughter who is into all things pink.

They are supposed to make good beans for drying. Does this mean that I cannot harvest and use them like runner beans? If I leave them for drying, do I leave them to dry on the plant, or should I pick them as soon as they are big enough?

Hope someone can help.

Cheers.

[Lesley Jay]

You can use the young pods like runner beans. Let the beans grow inside the pod then shell them and use fresh in casseroles and stews or simply freeze with no need to blanche first.