Gigandes!

[artichoke]

I know Supersprout used to grow gigandes, those huge Greek butter beans with lovely flavour and texture, but does anyone else? I have always loved them, bought some in Greece in May and planted a few when I got home.

I've just picked some of the fat pods and boiled the beans inside, and they are perfect! It's been such a bad summer for mediterranean plants (wet and cool, obviously) that I am very encouraged and will grow lots more next year. They are very little trouble; they just swarm up tall poles, flower profusely, and spend the rest of the season setting and fattening their pods.

[artichoke]

[saddad]

Glad they did so well Artichoke!
:o

[Emagggie]

They sound interesting Artichoke, tempted to have a go next year.

[kitten]

Oooh they sound brilliant artichoke, thinking of giving them a go next year - best invest in a few more canes then  ;)  ;D

[Sparkly]

sounds interesting! any known suppliers?

[artichoke]

http://www.alibaba.com/showroom/Bean.html?src=google&albch=google&albcp=Search_Agriculture&albkw=beans-wholesale&albag=Sell_Beans_Bean_Wholesalers&albmt=Broad&albst=Search

No, I don't know of any suppliers, but I did google the above. Hope it doesn't stretch the board.

Supersprout set a standard for generosity, and sent me some jerusalem artichokes in a padded envelope (they are IMMENSE at the moment) so if anyone wants to send me an addresed padded envelope (via email address?) I have many genuine Greek beans that I could send out, ie not my harvested beans which might not be as viable as the Greek ones have proved to be, but the ones I originally bought, which germinated so well.

I could send out 10 at a time, which you could multiply greatly next year. But they are very tall.

[Amazin]

Artichoke, have PMd you.

[Jeannine]

I grow  them from a supplier in Canada  XX Jeannine

[artichoke]

Amazin, I've replied - but shall we wait for the postal strike to be over?

Jannine, nice to hear from you. I suppose you have them posted to you from Canada - is it very expensive?

I remember being with an American friend in France when she received a parcel of various beans from her American family in California, and all the packets of beans had been slit open  by customs, and mixed up. My children were given the job of sorting them into separate bowls.

[Amazin]

Can do, artichoke, no probs, and many thanks for your generosity.

Grateful for any growing instructions/ advice too, as I understand they need quite a long season?

[artichoke]

Hi, I'm surprised and pleased by the number of people who are interested to try gigandes. I'll PM all with my address, and when you send me a stamped addressed envelope, I'll pop 10 beans in (Greek origin, not mine) and send them on (5 to the person with small garden). Obviously the strike is going to slow things down, but I'll take it as it comes.

I would appreciate these stamped addressed envelopes, though, as I didn't think so many people would be interested.

"Long growing season": looking back over my notes, I planted them ( pre-germinated in airing cupboard, small root showing) on 20th May, and found they grew really vigorously. I've got reasonably good soil, but nothing special, and I didn't prepare a trench or add manure, though I'm sure that would help.

Unfortunately we ate quite a lot of the green beans (like rather coarse short runner beans) before I decided to leave them alone to mature. And now, early October, they are maturing. I hadn't really expected them to be so large and fat and tasty, like the originals, but they are.

It was such a damp, cool summer, I thought they would not ripen, and I still believe we need a warm, dry October for the rest. I only picked about 6 pods the other day, and was surprised to find them so successful, but who knows how the rest will manage..... I am in East Sussex.

[Pigletwillie]

I grew a whole row of Supersprouts originals this year.

They are not butter beans but are botanically a type of runner bean that has really fat butter bean type beans. I am fairly sure the proper name is

"Spagna Bianco"

I have been getting between 1 and 5 beans to a pod, with an average of  3-4 and despite my concerns at first about a small yield, I have been very impressed with what I have harvested so far with lots more to come. Needless to say, I will be growing plenty more next year.

http://pigletsplots.blogspot.com/2007/09/spagna-bianco.html

[artichoke]

Pigletwillie, I have looked up your references, v interesting. Thank you. Harvested some more today, helped by Bruderhof girls who called in to say hello (Google it if you do not know their baffling approach to evolution) plus their v nice parents to whom it is dfficult to talk about speciation.

[sawfish]

found this place in america so I've emailed them to see if they ship to the UK.

http://www.purcellmountainfarms.com/Gigandes.htm

[sawfish]

they do ship to the uk, just drop them a line.

shipping might be a bit pricey but OK if you do it with a few people as they send them in pounds.

[artichoke]

Just to say I am sending out the first supply in a stamped addressed envelope that arrived this morning! I don't know what will happen to it in the circumstances - hope it arrives, Flowerlady! I've included an account of how mine grew, plus some websites with more information.

[Rhubarb Thrasher]

i thought of mailing purcell mountain farms, lots of nice beans. Let us know what they say, sawfish. I thought they were just supplying large quantities of beans for eating, not specifically for growing. Not that that makes much of a difference, as they're sure to germinate

[artichoke]

PS I now see that Thompson and Morgan sell gigandes, under the name "Climbing Bean : Favioli Rampicanti Corona
(Spagna Bean)" complete with instructions (I never watered mine or mulched them):

"These beans require a minimum soil temperature of 20C, so seed sowing must be delayed until these conditions prevail, usually from May in succession to July. Earlier sowings can be made under glass during March and April for earliest crops. Prepare the soil prior to sowing to create a level, weed free bed. Plant seed in rows 90cm apart with seed stations every 40cm in the rows. Using a dibber place 3 to 4 seeds at each station 3 to 5cm deep. Cover seeds with soil and firm.
Growing Instructions

Water regularly after sowing and throughout the cropping period. Supporting poles, canes, or netting, at least 180cm tall should be in place before sowing.
Aftercare Instructions

Mulching between rows with straw will conserve moisture and suppress weeds. Continually pick the beans before they become too large and coarse.
Kitchen Notes

Serving suggestion - ‘Butter Beans’ with Garlic. Remove bean seeds from pods. Soak bean seeds overnight. Boil until cooked. Drain. Mix with olive oil, crushed garlic, chopped parsley. Serve cold.

[Pigletwillie]

I grew mine just like runner beans and they have done really well and have been more productive than I expected.

[artichoke]

Agreed, P'willie. Plus I never water beans and peas. And I didn't prepare a trench. And I am getting more than expected. Wonderful discovery.