Phaseolus vulgaris 'Borlotto Lingua 3' – colorful and tasty Italian bean

Phaseolus vulgaris , commonly known as French bean or green bean, is an annual climbing plant prized for both ornamental and culinary use. The variety 'Borlotto Lingua 3' is a popular Italian selection, known for its two-tone pods and excellent flavor, making it a top choice for both home and professional gardeners.

This vigorous bean combines high-yielding growth with visual appeal, thanks to its green pods with red hues and the striking bicolored beans inside. Borlotto Lingua 3 offers both fresh consumption and grain for later use, making it a versatile addition to the vegetable garden.

Description and features

Phaseolus vulgaris 'Borlotto Lingua 3' is a highly productive and vigorous climber that is both tasty and decorative.

• Pods: Two-tone, green with red hues, stringless until the seeds are fully developed. The pods are long, tender, and crunchy.

• Seeds: Bicolor, suitable for use as grain beans; ideal for cooking, stewing, or drying.

• Growth: Strong and robust; produces large quantities of pods throughout the growing season.

• Decorative: The combination of green pods and red tones also makes the plant visually attractive in the vegetable garden.

The combination of tasty pods, striking colours and high productivity makes Borlotto Lingua 3 a real asset to any garden.

Cultivation and care

Borlotto Lingua 3 is easy to grow with the right care:

• Sowing: Sow directly outdoors from mid-May to late June, in rows along the stake. Place 6–8 seeds per stake, with 40–60 cm between seeds and 100 cm between rows.

• Position: Full sun and sheltered from cold winds; grows best in warm, well-lit locations.

• Soil: Well-drained, fertile and humus-rich; slightly moist and neutral in pH is ideal.

• Watering: Water regularly, especially during dry periods; avoid waterlogging and wet tillage.

• Support: Stakes or trellis required for vertical growth.

• Fertilization: Usually not necessary, as beans absorb nitrogen from the air into the soil.

• Earthing up: Later earthing up is recommended for a sturdy plant and extra support.

• Harvest: From late July to October; regular harvesting encourages continuous production.

With this care, Borlotto Lingua 3 will grow into a lush and productive climber with a continuous harvest of tasty pods.

Culinary applications

Borlotto Lingua 3 offers various culinary options:

• Fresh consumption: Harvest young pods for cooking, steaming, stir-frying or stir-frying.

• Grain Beans: Allow the pods to ripen to use the colorful seeds in stews, salads, or as dried beans.

• Taste: The beans are mild, sweet and tender; an excellent choice for traditional Italian dishes.

The combination of two-tone pods, attractive seeds, and rich flavor makes Borlotto Lingua 3 a culinary asset to the vegetable garden.

Benefits and applications

Phaseolus vulgaris 'Borlotto Lingua 3' offers several advantages:

1. Culinary – delicious pods and colorful seeds for various dishes.

2. Decorative – green pods with red hues create a visually attractive garden.

3. Productive – produces large quantities of pods throughout the growing season.

4. Easy to grow – suitable for both novice and experienced gardeners.

5. Versatile – suitable for fresh consumption, cooking, steaming or use as a grain bean.

These properties make Borlotto Lingua 3 a great choice for vegetable gardens, organic gardens and decorative balcony projects.