Beans are green or yellow – everyone knows that. But what is behind the names green and princess beans or behind runner beans, bush beans and runner beans? Do you also know the aromatic blue varieties? They are a delicacy rich in vitamins and turn green when cooked.
What different types of beans are there?
Bean varieties can be divided into three large groups: runner beans, bush beans and runner beans. Pole beans grow tall, while bush beans grow bushy. Runner beans are known for their flowers and climbing properties. Popular varieties are: “Adriana”, “Berggold” and “Saxa” (bush beans), “Goldmarie”, “Neckargold” and “Mathilda” (pole beans) and “Lady Di”, “Moonlight” and “St. George” (fire beans).
Green bean, princess bean, cut bean or crushed bean?
Green beans, princess beans and green beans are known from what is available in the supermarket and from cooking recipes. However, this does not refer to the varieties, but to the possible uses.
A green bean simply combines all beans together. The princess bean is not a separate variety either, but rather a particularly tender, early-harvested bean. Green beans taste best cut into small pieces as a vegetable or soup. Snap beans are young beans that are easy to break.
Runner beans, runner beans and French beans
The three large groups of vitamin-rich vegetables are referred to with the variety names runner beans, bush beans and runner beans. Runner and bush beans are common beans. They have been cultivated in Europe since the 16th century.
They are differentiated according to their growth. Bush beans grow low like a bush, runner beans climb up on a trellis. Both have round or flat pods that are between 5 and 30 cm long, depending on the variety.
Fire beans are grown primarily for their flowers. They grow fences and trellises, and their seeds are also edible when cooked.
Popular bush beans
- Adriana: 14 cm long, green pods, medium late to late variety, grows to 50 cm high, suitable as a green bean
- Berggold: robust variety, yellow pods, 12 - 14 cm long, stringless, salad or green bean
- Saxa: round, 13 cm long pods, stringless, crushed beans
High-yielding runner beans
Goldmarie: golden yellow, flat pods, 20 cm long, reliable variety for outdoors and greenhouses,
wax bean
- Neckargold: very productive,
- Mathilda: round, 15 cm long pods, fillet bean, early harvest
- Tamara: medium-wide, up to 28 cm long pods, very productive
Runner beans for pots and fences
- Lady Di: fiery red flowers, 25 - 30 cm long pods, very aromatic cut bean, robust variety
- Moonlight: white-flowering, 30 cm long, stringless, tender cut bean
- St. George: red-white flowering, aromatic, stringless bean, early harvest
Oh yes, the blue ones
- Blauhilde: runner bean, 25 cm long, deep purple pods, without threads, strong taste
- Bluevetta: French bean, 15 cm long, delicate, particularly aromatic pods, violet flowers
Tip
The varieties “Borlotto” (bush bean), “Canadian Wonder” (kidney bean) and “Merveille de Piemonte” (pole bean) are suitable as dry beans.
