Gigandes!

[Pigletwillie]

lol, didnt need to water them this summer did we?

They have done so well that I have made another scaffolding pole bean cane support solely for them for next year. Tonight a big handful of fresh beans have gone into a beef stew.

[Pigletwillie]

[Amazin]

Tonight a big handful of fresh beans have gone into a beef stew.

PW, do you soak these overnight and fast-boil before adding to stews, etc (as advised on packet beans) or doesn't that apply to fresh beans?

(Ainsley I ain't!)

;D

[artichoke]

Can't remember, maybe I already said this, but I made an oxtail stew and added the gigandes about an hour before oxtail was cooked. Luscious and delicious. Maybe old ones need more time, but these  were this year's crop.

PS I have still received only one SAE for the gigandes......I will fill any envelopes that get here but if anyone other than Flowerlady has sent theirs, it has not yet arrived.

[Pigletwillie]

When fresh as per artichokes post above, I have just added some to a beef stew this evening. If dried, an overnight soak does the trick and cook the same.

[tricia]

artichoke - my SAE went in the mail today. Lord knows how long it will take to reach you  ::).

Tricia

[Amazin]

Me again - the non-chef!

The reason I asked about soaking is that I understood many beans had to be soaked/ fast-boiled to remove toxins. Is that just dried beans then or just certain types of beans?

[artichoke]

My understanding is that soaking only shortens cooking time for dried beans. Everything I have read says that it is the cooking that deals with the toxins. We are warned that at some point beans have to be actually boiling to inactivate the toxins, and there is some concern about slow cooking methods if the beans don't at any point boil properly.

[Amazin]

Many thanks, Artichoke. My envelope's on it's way to you ... somewhere in the ether...

;D

[artichoke]

One more envelope arrived today (the second) and is going off now. I don't know whose it is!

[Florain]

Might be mine if it's going to Wiltshire! Hope so.

[artichoke]

Sorry, posted it, not sure, but it might have been Wiltshire - I know I wondered where that was........

[Florain]

Many thanks. My "magic beans" (as they are now being called), arrived yesterday. Will let you know how I get on next year.

[artichoke]

Hello, everyone - I am sorry to have delayed a little over sending out Gigandes recently, but I have packed the last three envelopes and posted them. And thank you VERY much for the lovely little packets of Cherokee Trail of tears, different forms of radish (hoping to grow them in gutters in plastic greenhouse over the winter....) and the Red Noodle Beans!  Very best wishes for the next Gigandes crops!

[artichoke]

PS Thanks also for the nice messages about beans having arrived safely. I do hope they do well.

[Susiebelle]

Many thanks , beans arrived today brightened up an otherwise dull  :((weather) day - promise of things to come ooooh can't wait.

[Jeannine]

Hi again, sorry to be so long in answering, mine came froma very small firm in Canada, they do send to the UK, and the postage was very cheap actually, they have a set amount  for postage, they said what they gain on the swings they lose on the roundabouts, so it comes out right in the end, I had five packets sent over this year, official name,Samos Greek Lima beans..AKA giganteus.

The company was very good to deal with and the beans were there in a few days

http://www.twowingsfarm.com


, XX Jeannine

[Rhubarb Thrasher]

I think the problem we have with getting Gigandes is that they have EU protected status - you can only call them that if they're grown in a small region of Greece. I imagine that the Spagna Bianca beans from T&M and Franchi are near enough or actually identical.
correct me if i'm wrong - it even took me a while to work out they're Runner Beans

[Amazin]

Jeannine,

Just went on the website you recommended but...

Important message: Due to customs regulations we are unable to ship seeds outside of Canada.

Is this a recent thing?

[petengade]

Wyvale sell Spagna Bianca beans packeted by Seeds of Italy for £1.99 a packet, hope this helps

[alipally]

I haven't grown those but I have used the seedsofitaly.com flagiolo di spagna, which sound like they may be very similar. May be worth looking at.