French Bean 'Borlotto di Fuoco'

A stunningly beautiful Italian heritage variety that is as decorative as it is delicious. 'Borlotto di Fuoco' (meaning "Fire Borlotto") is a climbing bean that produces long, flat pods heavily splashed and streaked with vivid crimson-red over a cream background. The beans themselves inside the pods are similarly marbled. In the UK, it can be harvested young as a "snap" bean when the pods are still green and tender, but it is most famous as a shelling bean. When the pods dry out in late summer, the beans are harvested for use in soups, stews, and risottos, where they provide a rich, creamy texture and nutty flavour. The vigorous vines can reach 2 metres and need the support of a trellis or bamboo canes. They thrive in the warm, sunny spells of a British summer but should be protected from late spring frosts. This variety is particularly successful in the south of the UK and is a great choice for adding vertical interest and colour to the vegetable plot.

Sun: Full sun.

Soil: Moist, fertile, well-drained soil.

Hardiness: H2 — down to 1°C.

Flowering: Jul, Aug.