Painted Lady Runner Bean

I sowed my Painted Lady Runner Beans directly in large 15 gallon pots on June 1. We have lots of beans here at the farm, of assorted colors. Usually we grow them for the pod, of course, but this cultivar is special.  It was planted only for the edible bean flower, rather than for the pod.

What's wonderful about vegetable plants, is that a lot of their flowers are edible.  Such is the bean.  Their flower tastes just like a bean! Their colors vary, too.  Most are white, but purple beans have purple flowers.  All bean flowers are edible, but this one has two colors (white and red), which makes it showier in edible flower dishes.

Comments

[judy mcgary]

Hi Cynthia,

I'm curious about "all bean flowers being edible". I thought that the Castor bean plant would be an exception, since the leaves on this plant are toxic. Can you elaborate on this a bit, so that children will not sample beans from this plant, if it's bean is also toxic? Thank you Cynthia, Judy (Doe Run Farm, Tn.)

[Love Apple Farm]

Mike, we get those from Renee's Garden Seeds.

[Mike]

Could you please tell me where I can find seed for the painted lady beans you grow ? Thanks Mike

[OsmoJoe]

These are such beautiful beans...my friend grew them last year and the vines got 6-8 feet tall!

[XVXVXV]

TANXXXXX

[Matron]

Matron prides herself on not growing flowers, but when I look hard at vegetable flowers they are just so beautiful. I have runner bean flowers in white, cream, salmon and red at the moment - stunning!

[Creative Animal Rescue]

I don't think I have told you how much i love your website! Thank you so much. I have a plethora of soon to be ripened tomatoes because I followed just a quarter of your fabulous instructions. Thank you!

[Nate]

they really are beautiful.

If you close your eyes and eat the different flowers, can you tell the difference between the colors?

[Taylor]

I never knew you could eat bean flowers! Don't you just love how vegetables are a constant surprise?