BARLOTTO LINGUA DI FUOCO has spectacular green pods splashed with red. For fresh use pick young or grow on and dry at the season’s end.
SOW: in pots inside or in a greenhouse (we always start ours in pots) but you can sow them in situ. Don’t start them earlier than mid April unless you warm the soil with cloches as germination is poor in cold soil. French beans are also happy sown in May to July in the open.
GROW: Plant out after hardening off when about 15cm tall after all frost danger has passed. Put one or two plants at the bottom of each cane.
EAT: Pick young and cook whole or sliced or leave the pods at the end of the season for drying. Dry on the plant if you can or pull up the plants and hang in a cool dry place until the pods are brittle then shell and store in an airtight container. They are super in winter casseroles. All of our French bean varieties freeze well.
