Phaseolus vulgaris
DESCRIPTION
This pole bean produces yellow flat and broad bean pods (Romano style) typically harvested before seeds form. Harvested when about 6 inches long, they are sweet and crunchy.
PROVENANCE
Jason Mills originally sourced this seed from Seed Savers Exchange by request from Nori Kalman, who remembers this bean from her childhood in Eastern Europe. This is Oshkosh-grown seed.
GROWING RECOMMENDATIONS
Plant 1/2 to 1 inch deep directly in garden soil in early-to-mid June. This pole bean will need trellising.
SEED SAVING
To avoid crossing with another variety of common bean, plants need to be at least 20 feet away from another variety of the same species. For more on legume species, see our guide. It couldn’t be easier! Just let the beans dry in the pods. Seed will be viable for several years if kept dry and cool/room temperature, but seed can also be frozen for longer-term storage.
CULINARY USE
Nori Kalman uses this bean to make a soup, but it is versatile, holding up well to boiling, steaming, sautéing. It tastes nice raw as well.
PRESERVING THE HARVEST
Blanch and freeze.