Common Bean Castandel Vilmorin seeds

The organic dwarf runner bean Castandel is a productive variety without strings, producing straight green pods. This hardy variety is perfect for freezing or canning. Sow from April to August for a harvest 2 months later. The seeds are produced using organic methods.

Whether consumed for its pod or its seed, the bean is a highly appreciated vegetable in gardens because it is very easy to grow.

There are different types:

- string beans: with a pleasant flavor, they must be picked young and regularly to avoid the presence of strings. They are consumed as whole green beans (known as 'immature beans').

- mangetout beans: more productive, their harvest is later and less frequent than string beans. They are also consumed as whole green beans and do not have strings.

- shelling beans: fresh, semi-dry, or dry, these beans are grown for their seeds.

Within these categories, there are climbing varieties (which will require stakes) and dwarf varieties (which will reach an average height of 50 cm (20in)).

Finally, some varieties combine several characteristics: you can find 'stringless' varieties, or coco-type varieties that can be grown for their seeds as well as their pods if picked young.

Beans, like all members of the Fabaceae family, have the particularity of enriching the soil with nitrogen. They fix nitrogen thanks to 'root nodules' (visible to the naked eye) and return it to the soil.

Harvesting: Green beans are harvested approximately 2 months after sowing. String beans should be harvested every 2 days, and mangetout beans once or twice a week. They should be picked delicately by cutting the stem. For fresh shelling varieties, the harvest should be done before the pods start to dehydrate and develop wrinkles. The beans should barely take on their color. Dry shelling varieties are harvested 4 to 5 months after sowing, when the pods have turned black, by cutting the entire stem.

Storage: To fully enjoy their flavor, beans should be eaten fresh and can be stored for a few days. For longer storage, green beans and fresh shelling beans can be easily frozen. Green beans should be trimmed, washed, blanched for 5 minutes in boiling water, then immersed in cold water, dried with a towel, and frozen. Green beans and fresh shelling beans can also be well preserved in jars. As for dry beans, their fully dry seeds can be stored for a year if kept in good conditions, such as in airtight jars. They should then be soaked for several hours before cooking.

Gardening tip: Practice the "three sisters" cultivation: corn, beans, and squash. Start by planting corn. When the corn plants reach a height of 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6in), sow 2 to 3 climbing bean seeds and 2 squash seeds at the base of each corn plant. The corn will serve as a support for the climbing beans, and the beans will provide the necessary nitrogen for the corn. Planting squash will limit weed growth and maintain soil moisture.