Seed List
Bonne Bouche
Originating in the city of Rouen, capital of the Normandy Region in France, in the 1950s this vigorous (1.8-2.4m) ex-commercial variety looks beautiful grown on a wigwam support with its pairs of delicate white flowers and large green leaves. The long green pods have a slight red stripe and are tender and flavoursome when young. When mature the podded beans are delicious.
Buckeye Fall
Another variety donated by John Yeoman this white flowered American heirloom grows to around 2m in height and is a prolific producer of curved, flattish green pods. Later than other French bean varieties and perfect for use dried. Let us know what you think of the flavour.
Canadian
This bean originated, as its name suggests, in Canada. It was served to a visiting family who were so impressed by its tenderness and flavour that they asked about its origins and were taken to see an old man who gave them some of the beans. Our donor describes them as having “a mild runner bean flavour but completely stringless and with a positively creamy texture”. It is a late variety producing attractive white flowers tinged with pale lilac, followed by flat, green pods on vigorous (2-3m) vines. The beans themselves are beautiful, light buff with olive green swirls.
Caseknife
This very old haricot variety dates back to at least 1820. It is a strong climber and a high yielding variety producing white flowers followed by stringless, flat, pale green pods, shaped like a little knife blade. These pods are tender and tasty when steamed, and delicious shelled and eaten raw in salads. Also makes a great drying bean.
Coco Bicolour
This old French variety yields one of the prettiest beans in the collection; they are neatly zoned into a cream area and a purple mottled area. Early, vigorous and prolific with vines reaching up to 9ft tall. One of our Guardians in northern England found that this was particularly suited to her conditions. When young they have a delicious beany flavour and their intriguing appearance when dried make attractive soups, stews and casseroles.
Cyprus
This bean has been grown, selected and saved in its native Cyprus for many years and was given to our donor by an allotment neighbour whose father lives on a small farm there. With very sparse foliage, it produces white flowers followed by an impressive crop of crisp and slender pencil-type pods full of juicy green beans. It also crops over a long period of time.
Czechoslovakian
When this variety was grown at Ryton we found that it produced very healthy plants, growing to 2-2.5m tall. The flowers are pale pink to lilac followed by long, green, flat pods which are stringless and tasty when picked young. Its performance was not impaired by the hot, dry summer of 2018. Guardian Alison Charlesworth found that the dried beans store well and have a lovely flavour.
Emperor of Russia
Syn. 'Longfellow'. Donated to us by Harlow Carr Botanic Garden, Harrogate. This fine haricot bean produces neat plants with white flowers followed by slim and crisp pencil pods, which are stringless when young. Seed Guardian Bill Dale comments, “I probably shouldn't say it but in the many years I've grown it, no disease or other problems. A crisp and crunchy treat when eaten fresh and young. A good, no-nonsense bean!”
Gauk
This variety has been grown on the Island of Gotland, Sweden (Gauk is a farm) since the 19th century. Pale pink and white flowers are followed by large green and carmine striped pods. Said to be adapted to harsh weather conditions; certainly proven by one HSL member who grows in the windy conditions of coastal Cumbria; and early to flower and pod.
George's
Thought to have originated in Poland, this variety produces creamish-white flowers followed by very attractive pods that, when mature, are green flushed with red. Can be used fresh as a succulent, stringless green bean, ideal for salads. Alternatively, the half white and half red, sometimes mottled, dried beans make an attractive addition to soups and stews. Seed Guardian Jackie Newey thinks that they are “amazing!” and grows some every year.