Borlotti beans inspire as a plant with their pink and white speckled pods. They also convince with a particularly aromatic taste. That is why Borlotti beans are increasingly being grown privately. Find out below how to successfully sow Borlotti beans.
Both the pods and the seeds inspire with beautiful patterns
The characteristics of Borlotti beans
Borlotti beans, as the name suggests, come from Italy. Their pods are mottled pinkish-white, and their seeds are also mottled or streaked with red or brown. Within these types of beans, there are different variants that differ in their harvest time and growth type. Borlotti beans are available both as pole and bush beans:
- Lingua di Fuoco: early maturing bush beans, seeds with red speckles
- Lamon: Pole bean, pink-brown speckled bean seeds
The taste of the borlotto bean is also convincing: the beans are usually harvested when they are ripe and then have a creamy, nutty taste.
Growing borlotti beans in the garden
Choose the right location
Like all types of beans, Borlotti beans prefer sunny, wind-protected locations. The soil should be loose and not too rich in nutrients, as beans are among the weak consumers. The pH should be between 5.5 and 7. If your Borlotti variety is a pole bean, you will need a climbing aid. You can find ideas for self-made climbing aids here.
Prefer the beans
If you're one of the more impatient gardeners, or just want to be on the safe side, it's a good idea to start growing the beans at home. This allows you to harvest earlier and ensures that all seeds sprout. To prep the beans:
- Soak the seeds in water overnight.
- The next day, put them in freshly filled pots about 1 to 3 cm deep in the ground.
- Covering the pots with cling film and a rubber band will provide more moisture and warmth and faster germination. But make sure that the soil does not start to mold!
- After the ice saints you can plant out your young bean plants.
Plant out borlotti beans
The ideal planting distance varies depending on the bean variety. Bush beans are planted 15 to 30 cm apart, pole beans need a little more space at 30 to 50 cm. Pole beans are often planted in a circle around a pyramid-shaped climbing aid. Bush beans should be mounded when the seedlings are about 15 to 25cm tall. Here you can find out how it works and why it is good for the plants.