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Runner beans · rare

Painted Lady

Painted Lady runner beansfrom our plot

A heritage variety from the 1830s with striking bi-coloured flowers — red and white on the same plant. Shorter than modern varieties and more decorative, it was originally grown as an ornamental before anyone thought to eat the beans. History on a wigwam.

When to sowOut of season just nowDates for your postcode →
in the kitchen

Runner bean chutney

Slice the beans, cook with onions, vinegar, sugar, mustard, turmeric, and cornflour until thick and golden. Jar it up. An old-fashioned way to use a glut, and brilliant with cheese and cold meats.

where to find the seeds

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more runner beans to grow