favorite soup bean Review by Darwinslair
Overall Rating
While it will not set beans in heat (prefers it to be between about 60-70 degrees for optimum bean set) when it does, it is incredibly heavy. Hummingbirds love this as well and I will have a dozen of them some mornings fighting among the blossoms. They hold their shape and color in cooking and taste wonderful. Have not eaten them as a snap bean, but mostly because I have so many others..
(Posted on 12/7/09)
Too hot here to grow these Review by Constant_Gardner
Overall Rating
I tried to grow these in the early spring. It was just too warm. They did produce a rapidly growing stem, and LOTS of beautiful red buds that attracted the hummingbirds, but alas, it was just too hot for them to set. Out of 24 beans, I only harvested about 3 short pods with only a couple of beans in them. I even misted the buds. Just too hot down here in the south for pollination. Too bad, they were so pretty..
(Posted on 9/25/10)
I love this bean Review by Karen
Overall Rating
Up here in Iowa, I grow these every year and let them climb a rope trellis and fence. The flowers add a pretty color to the garden. Pests like Japanese beetles will attack them, but I've never had them do enough damage to hinder their growth. My yields have been huge every year; when these plants decide to start setting, they really set!
Normally I pick them green; since the full size of the pods is huge, picking them at a "normal" size often yields stringless beans. They have a classic green bean flavor, very tasty, and they can well. This year I didn't have the time to keep them fully picked, and got a huge yield of dry beans. Dry, I find them a bit bland, although they have good texture. The dry beans are large, extremely beautiful, with purple or pink speckles on a brown base; they'd even be useful for children's art projects and things of that nature.
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(Posted on 12/10/10)
Awesome, beautiful and tasty too! Review by Blue Sky Gardner
Overall Rating
I planted these seeds in late spring here in Colorado not really knowing what to expect. They grew beautiful long leafy green vines with little red flowers, however they only produced 2 beans. I left them grow all through summer, as the temperatures cooled off this fall these started to grow strongly again. Now with temps in the high 40's-50's at night and 70's to low 80's during the day they are producing loads of beans. I wasn't really sure what to do with the beans(I dried the first couple) but my husband just decided to eat one off the vine and I was amazed at the flavor; tender and sweet. I think we will eat them like any old green bean. These will be a regular in my garden! .
(Posted on 10/3/11)
Loved these! Review by Serena
Overall Rating
I planted some for my fall garden here in Tennessee at 2000 feet since I had read they didn't do well in the heat anyway. They produced pretty well and the flavor is wonderful. The pods are thick and meaty and the best flavored green bean I've eaten. I'm growing them again this year and will devote more space than trying them last year..
(Posted on 1/11/12)
