butterbean 'Fagiolo Di Spagna'
butter bean
Delivery options
- Seed Packets (only) £2.95
- Position: full sun
- Soil: moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: fast
- Hardiness: half-hardy annual
- Growing instructions: From mid-April, start off under glass at 68°F (20°C) where germination will take place in 7-10 days (no need to presoak the beans). Alternatively, in late spring direct sow at 5cm (2”) deep and 30cm apart in a sunny spot with plenty of well-rotted organic matter. Support with sturdy hazel bean poles. Protect seedlings from slugs and herbivores. Keep well-watered during dry spells, and pick mature pods often to promote the growth of new ones.
- Sow: April to June
- Harvest: July to October
Butter beans (Phaseolus lunatus), also known as Lima beans, are medium- to large-sized, white kidney-shaped beans, and grown like a runner bean on supports or wigwams. A good source of dietary fibre, and a virtually fat-free source of high-quality protein, 'Fagiolo Di Spagna' is a heritage variety of shelling bean with approximately 3-5 beans per flat, green pod which reach 15cm (6”) in length. They can be cooked like a French bean if picked when young. Cooked prior to eating, they are excellent in soups or a summer bean salad, and the plant benefits the entire plot by fixing nitrogen in the soil.
- Humans/Pets: Raw pods/beans harmful if eaten