Next year: French Climbing Bean Borlotto

Next year we will definitely be growing the French climbing bean 'Borlotto di lingua di fuoco' (firetongue) which is an Italian multi purpose speciality. The beans can  either be eaten as flageolets (semi ripe young fresh pods) or as haricot beans (full mature pods with ripe seeds).

Apart from tasting delicous, the pods have a spectacular colour, and this vegatable could usefully be grown in a flower border because of the colour and drama it adds.

The seeds can be sown from February onwards for growing under glass or in modules for transplanting. Alternatively they can be sow directly into the open ground from late April onwards.
For those who do not like runner beans and having to "string" them before cooking, these beans are paradise!