Name: Aunt Ada's Italian Bean Seeds 811
SKU: 299
Price: 3.65 USD
Availability: InStock

Aunt Ada’s Italian Bean Seeds 811

$3.65

Certified Biodynamic and Organic This is a great dual purpose bean, and is used as a dried bean as well. In summer, we can hardly let a meal go by without including this delectable green bean. 6 ft. vines with a prolific set of small 3 in. flattened pods. HEIRLOOM came to Colorado from Italy with the Botanelli family circa 1900. The taste is best if picked when the outline of the beans are bulging in the green pod, and steamed about 15 to 20 minutes; it’s like a small buttery snap lima bean. When we shared this variety with friends, they said it was the best green bean they’d ever eaten! In the fall and winter, the unusual square tan dried beans are delicious cooked as soup beans. To use dried, allow beans to fully ripen and pods to turn brown. ≈68 seeds/oz.

Description

Aunt Ada’s Italian Bean Seeds

Scientific Name: Phaseolus vulgaris

Family: Pea

Type: Hardy Annual

Native Range: Lower 48 States, Pacific Basin, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands

Hardiness Zones: beans are not hardy and will die with light frost

Soil Requirements: Aunt Ada’s Italian Bean Seeds love warm and well-drained soil; slightly acidic pH [6.5 – 6.8];

Light Preference: Full sun

Water: Moderate

Days until Germination: 8-16 days

Sowing: Soak beans for 2-6 hours before planting. Sow directly into ground 2″- 3″ deep once soil is warm and last frost is past.

Plant Spacing: Pole beans need support of a trellis or fence. Plant seeds 2″ to 3″ deep, 5″ to 6″ apart, in rows 4′ apart within an inch or two of the trellis or pole. For a tepee method, plant 6 to 7 seeds around each pole.

Plant Height: Climbing. (Usually between 6′-10′).

Harvest: 55-60 days if using as a snap bean; pick when outline of beans are bulging in the pod–usually when pods are 3″ long; let grow until pods brown if using as a soup bean; continue to dry pods under cover for 2-4 weeks before shelling and storing;

Grows Well With: Carrots, cauliflower, beets, cucumbers, cabbage, small amounts of leek and celeriac, marigolds, corn, summer savory, radishes

Grows Poorly With: Garlic, shallots, chives, gladiolus, kohlrabi, sunflower, beets

Potential Problems: Mexican bean beetles; bean weevils; lack of support for stalk; sclerotinia white mold;

Uses & Cooking Suggestions: Delicious green bean great for steaming, as well as dried for use in soups.