Assorted Heirloom Beans
(Phaseolus vulgaris)
Blue Coco Bean
An 18th century French heirloom variety noted for its distinctive purple flowers and pods - even the leaves have a purple tinge making it a real eye-catcher for the potager. Climber, up to 1.5m in height. Best picked while the pods are still dark purple, before the characteristic blue hue and stringiness develops, otherwise leave the pods to mature on the vine and harvest either demi-sec or fully dry.
Painted 'Gila River' Bean
An essential shell bean for the enthusiast - a mid-height pole variety. Not a heavy cropper but the wide variation in both colours and patterns compensates. The Gila (HEE-la) River is located in South-West USA, a region that is home to native tribes.
Holy Bean
A mid-height pole bean grown for its distinctive egg-shaped bean seed: pure white when fully dried, pearly-white when demi-sec. Pods remain green as they develop but quickly turn primrose-yellow when they mature. The splash of purple on the seed surrounds the hilum, the bean belly-button, where it was attached to the pod.
Selugia Bean
Selugia bean seeds are blackish with rose-pink splashes. As the pods dry on the vine, ready for harvest, they characteristically shrink around the seed holding them firmly in place. Needs a long growing season to fully mature.
