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Ed's Flat Italian Heirloom Bean (pole)
  • Ed's Flat Italian Heirloom Bean (pole)
  • Ed's Flat Italian Heirloom Bean (pole)
  • Ed's Flat Italian Heirloom Bean (pole)
  • Ed's Flat Italian Heirloom Bean (pole)
  • Ed's Flat Italian Heirloom Bean (pole)
  • Ed's Flat Italian Heirloom Bean (pole)
  • Ed's Flat Italian Heirloom Bean (pole)
  • Ed's Flat Italian Heirloom Bean (pole)
  • Ed's Flat Italian Heirloom Bean (pole)
  • Ed's Flat Italian Heirloom Bean (pole)
  • Ed's Flat Italian Heirloom Bean (pole)
  • Ed's Flat Italian Heirloom Bean (pole)
Ed's Flat Italian Heirloom Bean (pole)

Phaseolus vulgaris
$4.50
Description

This incredible bean was gifted to us by our state seed inspector, Ed Harris. Upon our first ever official seed inspection (we passed!) it turned out that Ed was also a gardener and seed saver. He gifted Melissa some seeds for a special bean he had been keeping for some time, given to him by a friend that returned from a visit to Italy with this seed. For 20 years, Ed has been saving this seed in his garden here in North Florida. He really loved and it was excited to share with us his treasured bean. We sowed seeds at the end of March by a sturdy trellis, and they did not disappoint!

They were prolific, starting to bear by mid-May loads of lovely green pods streaked variably with purple. Even when large they were tender and stringless. We picked often and probably would have had even more if we were picking to eat. We pick to save seeds which slows the plant a bit, putting all it's energy into maturing seeds fully. They finally fizzled out in early July. They would probably be a great fall bean too, planted in August or September.
Product details
  • About 30 seeds
  • 60-70 days to harvest
  • Seeds grown in Working Food gardens at GROW HUB in Gainesville, Florida
How to grow

Legumes are able to manufacture their own nitrogen (magic + science!) and typically do not need very rich soil or much fertilization at all. Well composted and healthy soils are still encouraged, but you will not need to offer them much in the way of fertilizer. In fact, too much will encourage rampant leafy growth at the expense of the pods. They can be planted about 1" deep, spaced 4-8" apart. If they are a pole/vining variety they will do best planted with a support to climb. Bush and semi-vining types do not require trellising. They do not tolerate frosts and so should only be planted when we're not expecting any more freezes. Direct sowing is recommended as legumes don't typically appreciate the trauma of starting in a pot and then going into the ground.
How to save seeds

Legumes (beans and peas) are among the easiest seeds to save! However, our humidity can make it challenging to harvest dried seed pods. Late summer planted beans that mature into the drier fall weather are better for seed saving.

Allow seeds to dry indoors once picked, and shell soon to avoid molds and pests that hide in the pods. Harvest early and bring indoors if they are close to maturity but the humidity is high. Continue drying with silica or clay beads, or in a household dehydrator at low temperature.

Common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) are unlikely to cross with one another and only need to be separated by 10-20ft if you are growing other beans and want to keep the varieties pure.

Cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata) and Lima Beans (Phaseolus lunatus) are more likely to cross-pollinate. We have seen large heavy bees working all of our legume flowers, likely crossing them from time to time. This only matters if you are trying to keep varieties pure.

Seed can easily be saved from just 1 plant, but 5-10 is better, while 20+ is even better.

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