OwnGrown

There are differences of opinion about picking and using these beans. This is what is done here which works fine. Picking starts from late July when the growing beans start to go from green to streaky red and then to a more purple colour later. The beans inside will also go from a green colour to speckled red or in some cases more than speckled. The green beans should be eaten fresh and the coloured ones can be eaten fresh or dried thoroughly for a few weeks and then stored in airtight jars for use in the winter. They will keep for many months and certainly until late the following spring if dried properly. Picking stops around mid to late September when the plants are pulled up. Picture here are the green beans which will be used immediately and the speckled red / purple ones which are being dried.

Erect canes end May for Barlotta Beans. See Beans - Runner - canes for detail. This picture shows what we are aiming for!

Sow Barlotta Beans early May two seeds per station, 8″ apart and in rows 2′ wide. Remove weaker plant later if both grow as should happen in most cases. These can be sown as an extension of the Runner Bean rows or separately. Barlotta beans develop into attractive green and red pods with the seeds developing from light green to mottled red depending on how long they are left to ripen. If allowed to fully develop, they can be dried and stored in airtight jars until the following summer.