Green beans began to be used for food much later than shelled beans. But in the 18th century, curious Italians decided to taste the unripe green pods. They liked this novelty and soon took root in Italian cuisine. And only decades later, Europeans developed a special variety, which they called green beans or green beans.
Italy is the birthplace of the Borlotto bean variety, popular in Europe. There he was bred and called “Borlotti”. This variety is very popular in Ukraine, as it is ideal for the main national dish, borscht. The Borlotto variety is special in that it cooks very quickly. And this is very important for beans, because usually they have to be soaked overnight, and then cooked for a long time until fully cooked.
These beans are also valued for their beneficial properties. It contains a large amount of protein and is suitable even for dietary nutrition. It also contains potassium, iodine, iron, zinc, sodium, magnesium and other important trace elements. It is worth noting that green beans contain several times less kcal, only 31 kcal per 100 g, and grain beans - 298 kcal.
Now it would be logical to figure out what is so special about the Borlotto variety and whether it is worth growing such beans in your garden.
Characteristics of the variety
There is quite controversial information about Borlotto beans. Some say it is a bush plant, while others say it is a climbing plant.There may be several varieties. Another feature of the variety is that such beans can be consumed at different degrees of ripening.
"Borlotto" is used in cooking as:
- black Eyed Peas;
- young semi-dry seeds;
- fully ripened grains.
According to the time of ripening, the variety is classified as early ripening. It takes up to 60 days from the first shoots to the start of ripening, although unripe green pods can be harvested much earlier. To obtain fully ripened dry seeds you will need to wait up to 80 days. The plant is unpretentious to weather conditions and does not require complex care.
Ripe beans are large and wide with burgundy streaks. Large beans with a similar red and white pattern. At the initial stage of ripening, the pods are green, without a parchment layer and fibers. The taste is delicate sweetish. These beans are considered to be most delicious at the stage of incomplete ripening.
The length of the pods can reach up to 15 cm in length and up to 19 mm in width. Up to 5 grains ripen in a bean. At the stage of incomplete ripening they have a slight nutty flavor. Used for canning, freezing and preparing various dishes. The variety has high disease resistance to possible viruses and fungi. Loves warmth and grows well in moist, loose soil.
Growing
Sowing grains can begin after frost has completely passed. The soil must warm up to +15 °C, otherwise the seeds will not germinate. The end of May - beginning of June will be the ideal period for planting in open ground. Before sowing, the beans must be soaked in water for at least several hours.When the seeds soften a little, you can start planting.
We place the grains in the soil to a depth of 3–4 cm. The distance between the bushes should be approximately 20 cm, and leave 40–50 cm between the rows. The top of the bed can be covered with film, this will retain moisture in the soil and help retain heat. When sprouts appear, the beans need to be thinned out, leaving the strongest ones.
Loose soil, as well as with admixtures of sand, is perfect for this variety. At the same time, clay soil is unsuitable for growing beans, as it does not allow moisture to seep to the roots of the plant.
This variety can also be grown through seedlings. Then sowing should begin in early May. The seeds are planted in separate pots, and already in early June the seedlings can be planted in open ground.
Care
Caring for Borlotto beans is easy. The main thing is to install the supports in time and loosen the ground from time to time. If the air temperature is very high, then do not forget about watering. But this should be done no more than 1-2 times a week, and best in the morning or afternoon. To retain moisture in the soil longer, you can mulch, as shown in the photo.
Reviews
Let's sum it up
This variety has long won the attention of many gardeners. They love it for the opportunity to use both the seeds themselves and unripe pods. And the taste has never left anyone indifferent. Anyone can grow Borlotto. So if you haven’t tried planting this variety yet, be sure to do so!
