Heirloom Canadian Wonder is the classic red kidney bean—just what you need to complete a hearty bowl of chilli con carne. It’s easy to grow and wonderfully versatile.
SOW & GROW: start these off in pots or modules during April or May. Wait until mid-May to sow in situ. You can sow as late as July for a later harvest. Grown for either crop (in the green or as dried) your plants will reach 30-50cm tall and will not need supporting.
To enjoy as KIDNEY BEANS: leave the pods on the plants however you don’t need to wait for the end of the season. Pick them when they start to yellow (and your plants will keep cropping), shell them and leave them overnight and the beans will turn from pink to deep ‘kidney bean red’; now pop them in the freezer & these can then be cooked from frozen. If you want to dry your beans the pods will need to be left on the plants to dry naturally and then the dried beans can be stored in airtight jars. Dried Kidney Beans need to be soaked overnight before cooking.
To enjoy as a FRENCH BEAN: pick the heavy crops of attractive bright green pods early, when they are small and young, they are just packed with excellent flavour. They’re tender, full of flavour, and delicious straight from the garden.
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