Climbing French Bean Barlotta Lingua Di Fuoco

A striking and versatile heirloom variety, Barlotto Lingua Di Fuoco is a true showstopper in the garden. It produces spectacular green pods streaked with vibrant red, living up to its name—“Tongue of Fire.” Harvest young for fresh shelling beans with a creamy texture and nutty flavor, or let the pods mature fully and dry for use later in the season. (Also known as Borlotto Lingua di Fuoco or Fire Tongue Bean.)

Whether fresh or dried, these beans are as beautiful as they are delicious—a truly rewarding crop for any grower.

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.

ENJOY: 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.