Friend of mine moved into an apt where the previous tenant had a small garden. There was a beautiful bean plant. Grows to about 6ft tall. Has long 5-7in, flat bean with purple seeds. Flowers were red. Think they might be Scarlet Runners but thought that those were the normal skinny beans, these look like an Italian Bean. Any of those have these kind of beans?

Hello LLady,
You wouldn't happen to have a picture of
that bean and or plant would you???
Just to be sure????

I'm only guessing here from your
discription, but Renee sent me pictures
of her scarelet hyacynth bean,
maybe something like that??
It had red/purple/pinkish flowers
*very pretty and she's sending me some seeds*
and the bean pod was the same sorta color too.

I gotta get me one of those web~shot things
for pictures, sometime!!!

Weezie

Thanks Weezie, I had never heard of those kind of beans but after looking them up, I'm pretty sure they are not the Hyacinth Beans. The pods are green and seem to be edible. Taste like regular green beans but they are big and flat like an Italian bean. I didn't get pics before the frost hit this weekend, I think they maybe the Scarlet Runners. I have never grown these types so next year will try them. I just don't know what to do with them when they are big, can I cook them like a regular bean? Or are they too far gone to eat them?

Scarlet Runner Pole Bean picture/info:

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/BODY_MV023

Tepary Bean picture/info:

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/BODY_MV025

Broad Bean/Fava Bean picture/info:

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/BODY_MV017
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yankee Gardener's
Images,Heirloom and Garden Beans

http://www.yankeegardener.com/seeds/

Thanks Papito, this is deffinately a Scarlet Runner, good thing I picked up some of the dried pods the other day cause the landscape people came around and yanked out all the plants that were hit by the frost, so I have got lots of seeds to try next year. Going to try to cook them up tomm so we'll see how the older beans do. Younger is better, they say but sometimes old things are good too. Thanks to both of you.

largelady,

you wouldn't happen to have any extra of those beans would you? I would love to plant some. I could send you a SASE for some. Just curious!

Sure, IowaNovice, just email me with your name and addy and I'll send you some

Largelady...did you get my e-mail? Wanted to make sure, was having pc problems...

Thanks!

yup, I got it Seeds will be sent out tomm, threw in some Columbine seeds I had too. Hope you like them.

Thanks! I love columbines! Sorry it took so long to get back to you...we had power and DSL service knocked out on Wed....just got internet back this morning.

Just wanted you to know that I got the scarlet runner beans this weekend. Thanks so much for sending them to me. Can't wait to grow them!