Butter Beans

[vegnut]

Hi everyone
Next year i would like to be able to grow some butter beans, but i can't seem to be able to find any seed. Are they under a different name or just not possible to grow in the UK. Anyones thoughts and ideas on this would be great.
Many thanks

[alan refail]

Hi vegnut

You won't find seed for "butter beans" for sale, simply because there is no such thing. Rather "butter bean" is a cooks' term for large white dried beans. The most usual variety is Lima Bean (phaseolus lunatus)
http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr ... CAN=COMIND
These it is certainly not possible to grow here in the UK.
Depending on what you want "butter beans" for, there may be many other larger seeded French Bean (phaseolus vulgaris) that would suit you.

Alan

[Johnboy]

Hi Vegnut,
I feel that you might benefit from this website

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lima_bean

At the bottom there is a place to click on about Date Base (The first one) which it seems that plants, but doesn't mention seeds, needing a Passport.
JB.

[vegnut]

Hi Alan & Johnboy
Many thanks for taking the time to answer my question, and WOW what a minefield. I think i will just buy them in tins. That's one big genre of bean .Haba bean, Pallar bean, Burma bean, Guffin bean, Hibbert bean, Java bean, Sieva bean, Rangood bean, Madagascar bean, Paiga, Paigya, prolific bean, civet bean and sugar bean. And who's to say that you have cooked them long enough, so they don't poison you LOL.
Once again Thanks guy's
Dave

[Chantal]

Hi Vegnut

I'm growing Fagiolo di Spagna (Butter Bean) from Seeds of Italy

http://www.seedsofitaly.com/product/269

They are romping up the poles and have masses of flowers; they're doing better than the French and runner beans at the moment.

[Colin_M]

I'm growing Fagiolo di Spagna (Butter Bean) from Seeds of Italy

Hi Chantal, can you tell us what the latest date for planting these is?

I had a quick look at the SOI website, but it doesn't seem to say. It's a shame because I've just placed my first order with them, and took the opportunity to get some Borlotti's, which it reckons can still be planted up till July.


Colin

[Chantal]

Hi Colin

I've dug out the box and it says for the UK they can be planted from April until July. I've got a dozen or so of these beans left; if you'd like me to post them to me send me a PM with your address.

[vegnut]

Hi Vegnut

I'm growing Fagiolo di Spagna (Butter Bean) from Seeds of Italy

http://www.seedsofitaly.com/product/269

They are romping up the poles and have masses of flowers; they're doing better than the French and runner beans at the moment.

Hi Chantal. Thanks for the info. If you have success with these (it sounds like you are) Please tell us more, i would definately like to try these next year. I have saved the link into my fav's so i dont forget which type you are growing lol Meanwhile, enjoy
Dave

[cevenol jardin]

Hi
I am also growing Fagiolo di Spagna this year because I wanted to grow butter beans (my favourite dry bean for eating) and had problems finding seed. I got the seeds direct from Franchi in Italy and and there is a bit more info on the box as follows:

They are, however, Runner Beans according to the translation into both English and French on the box. Long green pods of 13-18cm, flat containing 3-5 large white beans. Height 190-200 vigorous and productive. Can be eaten early as a mangetout or left to mature for the seeds. Sow April - July for continental climate Harvest July-Sept.

I sowed them June 15 but mice made a pic nic of them so i'll be sowing again this week. Our cat got the culprit and is now sitting in the veg patch on guard so it should be safe to try again.

There is a French variety called Tarbais which is said to be a butter bean. I've tracked it down to http://www.fermedesaintemarthe.com
HARICOT MAIS VARIETE GROS BLANC APPELE AUSSI TARBAIS
Réf. 1266A - BOITE DE 120 GRAMMES

which i plan to try next year.

[vegnut]

Thanks for the info cevenol jardin. Info on the Tarbais could be invaluable next year.
Just out of interest, what do you do with your beans once dry, apart from throwing a large handfull in to the casserole pot.
Thanks
Dave

[Tigger]

They make a lovely salad mixed with onions, potatoes, mayonaisse and tuna. As well as another salad of mixed beans, fresh tomatoes, cucumbers and meat/fish with a French style dressing.

[cevenol jardin]

I cook them in large batches and have portions ready cooked in the freezer to add to salads or soups. Other favs are:

Freshly cooked then dressed in olive oil, garlic & rosemary - we had that as one of the veg on our xmas dinner last year.

Mediterranean style Tomato & White bean stew
Stewed in skinned tomatoes with loads of herbs, olive oil, capers and olives.

Another version of above is with tomatoes, loads of wild thymn and bay leaves and fish. Lay fish stakes on the top of the stew to steam for the last 10mins of cooking. A great one pot dish i made camping in greece.

Ginger Butter bean casserole
Fry an onion, 1 or 2 young leeks and 1 tsp cracked black pepper, put in cooked beans, tomato pasata, grated ginger, garlic, pinch sugar. Cook 15-20mins check seasoning and stir in some fresh herbs.

Spinach and butter bean (catalan Tapas)
Spinach washed and shredded
Olive Oil garlic
cooked large white beans
Salt & pepper
Good squeeze lemon & small bunch fresh thyme
Heat oil in a large saute pan add spinach, salt pepper thyme, and garlic cook for a minute stiring add beans carefully not to break the beans add lemon and serve.

[GIULIA]

I've grown the Fagiolo de Spagna for several years now and they always do really well, I grow them exactly the same way as runner beans, but don't be tempted to let them share a ridge with another variety as they're much weightier and their leaves are large enough to blot out the sun from a climbing French bean - so let them have a ridge or wigwam to themselves. We leave the beans until they're as big as possible, sometimes only one to a pod but its enormous. They dry very successfully and are very versatile. They've become quite the fashion at our allotments now, lots of us grow them and they've loved the wet weather!

[Chantal]

Mine Fagioli di Spagna are now way higher than the runnner and French beans. Luckily I have them on a separate wigwam; as Giulia says, the leaves are big and the whole plant is quite thugish compared to the other beans. The beans are just starting to set so I'm very hopeful.

[Multiveg]

Czar runner beans from the organic gardening catalogue can be used like butter beans. The flowers are white, if I remember rightly.
And if you use them with breadcrumbs in a mouse mill, you could make chocolate biscuits!