Phaseolus vulgaris 'Borlotto Firetongue' Tweet

Genus: Phaseolus

Common Name: Dwarf French Bean 'Borlotto Firetongue'

Latin Name: Phaseolus vulgaris 'Borlotto Firetongue'

Variety: 'Borlotto Firetongue'

Family Name: Leguminosae

Plant Description:

An excellent dwarf French bean
Short bushy plants with scented, pink, white, red flowers followed by heavy crops of delicious, slim, fleshy beans.
This is an attractive variety with mottled red pods and large tasty beans. It is used extensively in Italian dishes, like minestrone, as either a dried bean or as a freshly picked pod.
The seeds and pods are attractively mottled with red markings. Pick when young as a normal French Bean if required.
Known also as Kidney Beans.
Never eat pods raw.
The seeds will last throughout winter if stored in an airtight jar.

French beans grow well in a sunny, sheltered spot in well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter added. Always keep your bean plants weed free and well watered, especially during dry spells.
As well as being a delicious vegetable, the decorative value of this plant should not be overlooked. Wigwams of beans look good in a flower border and can be a good way of growing the crop in the smaller garden.
Good humidity is important during flowering to get flowers to set.
This bean germinates by Epigeal germinations. See the time-lapse sequence attached to this page.

Latin Name Explanation:

Preferred Aspect: Sun (partial shade)

Height: 35cm

Spread: 35cm

Form: Deciduous

Hardiness: Frost Tender

Grown Height: 35cm

Grown Spread: 35cm

Leaf Type: Deciduous

Likes Soil Type:

Does not thrive in Soil Type:

Hardiness: Frost Tender

Preferred Aspect: Sun (partial shade)

Primary Flower Colour: Red

Primary Foliage Colour: Blue Green

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Period of Interest

Planting Period

Pruning Period

Element of Interest:

Flower


Likes PH: Alkaline - neutral

Does not thrive in PH:

Moisture Level: Moist well drained soil

Growth Rate: Moderate vigorous upright

After Care Required: Slightly Tender Plant - Protect from Frost


Work Involved: Needs Some Attention

Fragrance: Very Fragrant

Suitable for Small Garden:

Does it need staking?:

Plant for RHS Identification Course:

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Specific Planting:

Time to plant seeds: March to June.
It is best not to grow beans in the same place in consecutive years. Decide on the planting site 6 months prior to sowing. Choose a sheltered spot to encourage pollinating insects. French beans require a light, fertile, moist, but well drained, soil. In the autumn dig a trench a spade deep and 60cm wide. Work in well rotted compost. The ideal planting time is usually mid March to mid June. It is important not to plant seeds out of doors too early - they will not germinate if the soil temperature is too cold and can just rot away. A minimum of 13 degrees centigrade is ideal for germination.
Sow March-April under glass, or in succession outdoors from late April until mid-June. (12 weeks maturity.)
For early crops - sow in pots and plant out. Use polythene or fleece to warm soil prior to sowing.
Although this is a dwarf climbing variety of French Bean it will still be necessary to provide some form of support for the plants to scramble up. This can be in the form of two rows of canes attached to horizontal canes across the top of the row; or circles of canes can be tied together in to wigwams; or strings, wires or nylon netting can be fixed to a pole framework. Leave plenty of space between rows or wigwams so you can harvest the beans easily.
Sow one or two seeds 5cm deep every 15cm apart. You can cover with cloches to protect them from frosts. Alternatively seeds can be sown indoors and plants hardened off before planting out but may take some time for their root systems to settle down in the soil. Water well after sowing. After germination mulch to retain moisture.

Specific Care:

Remove weaker seedlings after germination. Earth up the stems of young plants as they grow to give support. Never let the soil become compacted around the roots of the plant. Keep the soil moist throughout the growing period and particularly when the plants are flowering. If beans are not setting, insufficient water is usually the cause. A mulch will help conserve moisture and keep down weeds.

Specific Feeding:

Apply a liquid feed every fortnight during the summer. Avoid high nitrogen feeds. Mulch to conserve moisture.

Propagation

From Seed

Phaseolus coccineus 'Achievement' Phaseolus coccineus 'Painted Lady' Phaseolus coccineus 'Polestar' Phaseolus coccineus 'Scarlet Runner' Phaseolus vulgaris 'Blue Lake' Phaseolus vulgaris 'Cobra' Phaseolus vulgaris 'Kentucky Blue'

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