Borlotti beans
Strikingly beautiful pods and delicious, creamy beans make borlotti a rewarding crop. Grown for their shelling beans, they are a staple in Mediterranean cooking, perfect fresh or dried.
Borlotti beans seeds
£2.49 in the shop
Calendar
Sow
Late May – early July, directly into warm soil, after all risk of frost has passed. They need warmth to germinate.
Plant out
Not typically transplanted. Sow direct into final growing position.
Harvest
August – October, 12-16 weeks from sowing.
Conditions
Sun
Full sun, 6–8 hours a day.
Water
Keep consistently moist, especially during flowering and pod development. Avoid dry spells.
Soil
Well-drained, fertile soil, pH 6.0–7.0. Amend with compost or well-rotted manure.
Spacing
15-20cm between plants, 60cm between rows. Provide sturdy climbing support for pole varieties.
Containers
Bush varieties can grow in large containers (minimum 30cm diameter). Pole varieties need very large pots (40cm+) and strong support.
Indoors
Can be started indoors in modules 3-4 weeks before the last frost, then carefully transplanted after hardening off.
Care and harvest
Feeding
Generally not required. Excessive nitrogen can promote leafy growth over bean production.
Pruning
Pinch out growing tips of climbing varieties once they reach the top of their support to encourage side shoots and pod formation.
Harvesting
For fresh shelling beans: Pick when pods are plump and colours are vivid. For drying: Leave pods on the plant until they become papery, dry, and beans rattle inside. Harvest before heavy rains.
Storage
Fresh beans: shell and use within a few days, or blanch and freeze. Dried beans: store in an airtight container in a cool, dark place for up to a year.
Good companions: Corn, Squash, Marigolds, Nasturtiums