I love beans!

[Pompeylottie]

Can anyone recommend beans to grow to eat the bean only, not the pod, I am planning to grow Czar runners for butterbeans, Borlotti and Trail of tears but would love other ideas as I love beans so much!
Thanks

[lottie dolly]

had blue lake last year and was lovely,saved some seeds for this 1,it's a french cimber pencil pod,only let them grow to aprox 4 in long,they real tasty,and not all soggy when steamed,mmmmmm

[Two_Sheds]

this might interest you: http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ans_26962.html

[lottie dolly]

Seen the thead before,good idea,last year i grew some just for podding,some fresh in the freezer,some fully dried out in the pantry,
I recall a peep passing comment about growing beans for toast,so the smaller ones are ideal,1 time i did to many for us,so next day spiced them up to our taste buds a and had them on toast was lovely,so many uses,all the brain needs to do is PUT THEM TO SOAK OVERNIGHT,

[alex-adam]

Can anyone recommend beans to grow to eat the bean only, not the pod, I am planning to grow Czar runners for butterbeans, Borlotti and Trail of tears but would love other ideas as I love beans so much!
Thanks

Here are links to a couple of websites which have good lists of the more unusual beans.

http://www.thomasetty.co.uk/seeds/veg-flower-2012.pdf

Some heritage vegetable varieties

Myself I grew Chreokee Trail of Tears and Bridgwater beans last season. This year I am growing both again and am trying Poletschka and I am tempted to try one of the dwarf beans mentioned in the attached lists - I'll leave you to guess !!

a-a

[zazen999]

The Linear Legume

I love beans too

[Helgalush]

Wow Zazen, thats quite a list!

Pompey, I wondered if you would find this website helpful, as I did, got lots of information about different types of beans (and has them for sale including heirloom ones) and tells you about which are good for eating fresh, dried or frozen etc.
Beans and Herbs

[alex-adam]

The Linear Legume

I love beans too

Hi Zazen - Quite a list indeed.

Question - I know that climbing French beans in the main are self-fertile and don't need insect polination. - How far apart would you recommend planting different varieties to minimise the possibility of cross polination, thus keeping the beans true to type?

[zazen999]

Hi Zazen - Quite a list indeed.

Question - I know that climbing French beans in the main are self-fertile and don't need insect polination. - How far apart would you recommend planting different varieties to minimise the possibility of cross polination, thus keeping the beans true to type?

They don't cross pollinate so they can go next to each other

[phil the shed]

The Linear Legume

I love beans too

oh yes we know you do.....
i thought 14 different ones was a lot but you amaze me Bean-lady ....lol

[veggiechicken]

The Linear Legume

I love beans too

Does anyone have a bean which is NOT on Zaz's list?

Especially one whose name begins with Q or U as they are missing from Zaz's Alphabet of Beans!

[chris]

Does anyone have a bean which is NOT on Zaz's list?

Especially one whose name begins with Q or U as they are missing from Zaz's Alphabet of Beans!

Hewitt? (says he just having a sample from the VSP)

Of course there probably is a reason for that. But damn zaz, how many do you grow of each type?

[Two_Sheds]

How far apart would you recommend planting different varieties to minimise the possibility of cross polination, thus keeping the beans true to type?

Real Seeds say: "French beans are self-pollinating, mostly before the flowers open. Despite this, they can be crossed by insects with other varieties nearby...grow your seed crop of french beans at least 6 feet away from any other variety (12 feet if possible), and you are unlikely to have a significant problem with crossing in the UK. "

[zazen999]

Hewitt? (says he just having a sample from the VSP)

Of course there probably is a reason for that. But damn zaz, how many do you grow of each type?

I now have Hewitt; as well as another few that arrived after I made that post [in a seed circle of all things]. Sorry *ducks.

I grow a few of many and concentrate on bulking up about 10 a year; and then send them out to people to grow themselves.

I now take out any that are not true to type and eat them.