Hello Garden Gurus!
I hope you folks can help me, because I'm TOTALLY confused by beans! This year I grew Scarlet Runners basically for the
flowers (which is good, because I got ONE bean!) and an heirloom Italian bush bean called Borlotto Lingua di Fuoco. I planted it in a pot on the patio and it didn't get enough sun - got only a handful of beans but they were delicious!
This is my question, as I start planning next year's garden I find references to pole beans, bush beans, dried beans, filet beans, mung beans, fava beans... but I can't find any guide as to the differences..
Okay, I know pole beans are the kind that climb a pole - like Scarlet Runners - but do you eat the beans IN the pod or do you throw the pod away?
Bush beans are shrubby, right? Same question as above.
Dried beans... must be called that because they are good for drying, but can you eat them fresh? Is the pod edible?
Filet? Are those the "French Cut Green Beans" one gets frozen or tinned?
How do you know when bean are ready? I picked the Italian ones when I just couldn't stand it anymore and had to taste them! LOL!!
Any help would be appreciated!
Thanks so much!
:)