A traditional Romano bean from Italy.

Vigorous 7 foot tall vines will produce long, green, flat pods. If left to mature, white seeds will develop within. Harvest when pods reach 10 inches long, and before pods begin to fill out. At this stage, pods will remain stringless and may be eaten as snap beans. Once seeds begin to fill out inside the pods, you are better to leave the pods to mature for the white beans within.

My favourite way to prepare these beans is to harvest when flat and slightly immature. Cut into 1 inch pieces and saute with other garden veggies, like zucchini, onions, garlic, tomatoes and eggplant. Can also be roast in the oven with onions, tomatoes and garlic. Either way, they are delicious!

In order to encourage a continuous flush of flat delicious beans, harvest regularly and blanch and freeze the excess. If you’ve grown these beans before, you’ll know how fantastic they are!

This variety holds a permanent location in my garden, as I couldn’t imagine a year without them.

Growing Information:

Sow beans no earlier than 1 week before the average last frost date, as they germinate better in warm soil. Check out my Seed Starting Calculator for specific planting dates for your area, and to learn the last safe sowing date to achieve a succession crop.

Harvest regularly to encourage a continuous crop.

Planting depth: 1 inch
Spacing: 4 inches apart

Provide a good support structure, as vines will grow long and abundant throughout the growing season. Consider sowing a succession crop 2 to 3 weeks after the first sowing.

Days to Maturity: 65

Price: $4.95 each

Packet: 27 g (approximately 50 seeds)

Germination: 99%