Borlotti Dwarf

[VirginVegGrower]

Hi all, first time growing these and my seedlings are size-wise ready for planting out. I have been holding off owing to the ridiculously strong winds here at the moment. They have been day hardened and now I wish to plant. My question is will they require any staking being a dwarf variety?
Thanks in advance!

[Nes]

I've grown these for two years now, and have never staked them. Got nice beans for casseroles for not a great deal of work!!

[VirginVegGrower]

Great news, thank you. How tall do they grow - broad bean sized?

[Flummery]

No only about 12" tall in my garden. The pods are splashed with red and look gorgeous. Leave them on to dry and use the splashed red beans soaked and cooked in stews and casseroles.

[chris]

Gonna get in whilst the goings good (i.e. before TS ) - make sure you cook them properly!!! (boil for ten mins at least!)

[VirginVegGrower]

Cheers Flummery and CM - I was drawn by their prettiness I am afraid to admit! I make a number of stews/crock pot meals through Autumn and Winter so these will be welcome. Are they green inside spotty skin or pink/purple? Can I not dry them off the plant? Will the beans be of a decreased yield if I don't keep picking? Sorry, so many questions - am wanting to make sure I get a good crop.

[Pies]

Gonna get in whilst the goings good (i.e. before TS ) - make sure you cook them properly!!! (boil for ten mins at least!)

In before TS, i soak mine overnight

[Flummery]

I often don't dry them on the plant. When you can feel that they are knobbly they will be green inside. You can eat them at this stage - no long soaking needed - and they are called shelly beans. Leave them a bit longer and the skins go first leathery them crisp. I often do this on newspaper indoors. Pick them at the leathery stage and don't pod them till the pods are hard and dry. At this stage they are gorgeous in colour and have the red markings.

Another tip - don't salt them until they are done - salt makes the skins tough.

[VirginVegGrower]

Thanks Flummery - great advice. Will follow the dried bean stage as that's what I am after!