Favourite bean varieties for shelling/drying?

[Mrs Jackson]

I've grown french beans for the last 4 years but I grew Cherokee Trail of Tears and Borlotto Lingua di Fuocco this year for the beans rather than the pods and they've been fantastic! I'm near-enough vegan so I use a lot of dried beans anyway, but the freshly shelled ones have been really yummy. I'm planning on having a go at Borlotto Lamon, Butterbean Fagiolo di Spagna, Lima Beans, Pea Beans, Mayflower Beans (if I can get hold of the seeds, Plants of Distinction have sold out ) and a selection from the supermarket next year. Has anyone got any more recommendations? Needs to be climbing really to avoid the slugs at the allotment. Thanks

Mrs J

[zazen999]

Madeira Maroon
Monastic Coco
Black Valentine
Pinto [of course]
Emperor of Russia
Red from New York

These are my faves so far; along with the Cherokee, Yin Yang and Borlotti/o.......

I'll be doing some photos later once all my beans are shelled and dried.

[Mrs Jackson]

Thanks Andrea. Are Pinto dwarf or climbing? I buy loads for chillies so growing some myself is very appealing! Off to google some of those varieties

Mrs J

[zazen999]

You'll find the madeira maroons on Piglet Willie's blog....

Pinto are dwarf. I have managed to breed or cross breed a climber with darker beans; which I will be growing next year and saving from - if it works and I remember then you are welcome to some for the 2011 summer season.

I just threw a load of pintos from a shop bought packet into the ground last summer and saved for this year's sowing from those.

[Mrs Jackson]

Thank you! Just had a look at PWs bog and those Madeira Maroon look lovely, I'll definitely be giving those a try next year.

Mrs J

[kiwirach]

i had my first go at this this year and grew some red kidney beans....Canadian Wonder....billed as 'the' red kidney bean. i'm pleased as punch with my little haul, but i'm gonna have to plant loads more next year if i want to grow more than one meals worth!!.
my borlottis didnt take off, so will try them again next year.
i've got a pinto to try for next year as well, but its a dwarf.

[Sue]

Hi
After a couple of years experimenting have settled on the Borlotti, it's reliable and you get a good crop and I like the taste. I also like Hunter French beans. Good long flat pods with a good 8+ seed count, nice sized white bean too. And I like Czar Runner Bean which has white seeds and counts as a butter bean. Although I do use the usual purple seeds of any Runner Beans left on the plants at the end of the year when I can't face eating or preparing another runner bean ever again.

And this year have managed to remember to dry and store the different types of bean separately. Borlottis for soup. Hunters for Baked Beans and Czars - don't know what I've got in store for them yet.

best wishes
Sue

[hawthorns]

ying yang beans are superb in soups and casseroles

[Two_Sheds]

You'll find the madeira maroons on Piglet Willie's blog.

I've never been able to grow these. They either don't germinate, or die.

grew some red kidney beans....Canadian Wonder....billed as 'the' red kidney bean.

It's brilliant isn't it? I grew about 50 plants this year, and got a good haul. They are short climbers: about 2-3' tall

ying yang beans are superb in soups and casseroles

Yes, and pretty too.

I'd also add Serbian (like Borlotti but gold stiped); Tiger Eye (black & white striped) and Black Croatian (large like Borlotti but all black).

[Two_Sheds]

and White Emergo as a butter bean, but it needs a really long growing season

[muckdiva]

Hutterite Soup are a lovely creamy coloured bean. Grew a few for seed from HSL last year and they were amazingly prolific and no trouble at all to grow. I forgot to get them in the ground this year (Doh!), but planning to grow lots next year. Deffo recommend this one as it seems foolproof and I like that in a plant!

This year I've grown Early Warwick, a nice red speckled bean and Magpie which is a very pretty black and white small bean. Not sure what the yield will be yet, but plants are looking ok so far and I expect the beans will be good in casseroles etc.

[Flummery]

I'd second Early Warwick. I also grow Soldier - a heritage dwarf bean which has large beans like a cannelini. And my favourite shelly of all, also Heritage and a climber - Bird's Egg. Beautiful beans - having some with tea tomight!

[Mrs Jackson]

Thanks for all your suggestions, I've been googling them and I'm trying to make a shortlist at the moment (not easy!). Has anyone grown Hidatsa Shield beans? They look really nice, like a cross between Ying Yang and Borlotti. I might have to make some space at home for dwarf beans too at this rate

Mrs J