Pole beans are particularly susceptible to bean rust. Older varieties, however, are often more resistant, and not just to this serious fungal disease. In addition, when you sow old varieties, you help maintain a colorful variety of pole beans. Get to know ten tried and tested old European varieties below.
What are the special features of old runner bean varieties?
Old runner bean varieties such as Anellino Giallo, Berner Landfrauen, Barbunya and Cresijevec are more resistant to fungal diseases and contribute to maintaining species diversity. They are characterized by special flavor nuances, colors and shapes.
Anellino Giallo
- Origin: Old runner bean variety from Italy
- Sleeve color and shape: curled, yellow
- Grain color: red-brown marbled
- Harvest: Late variety
- Taste: noble aromatic, delicate
- Special features: threadless
Bernese rural women
- Origin: Old Swiss variety
- Sleeve color and shape: elongated, threadless green-purple speckled
- Grain color: brown-black marbled
Barbunya
- Origin: Old runner bean varieties from Turkey
- Sleeve color and shape: green, flat, wide
- Grain color: cream-colored with wine-red speckles
- Special features: only grows to 1.50m high, very disease resistant
- Taste: slightly sweet
Cresijevec
- Origin: old runner bean variety from Slovenia
- Sleeve color and shape: light green with purple speckles
- Grain color: wine red to violet with light speckles
- Flower color: violet
Domaci Cucak
- Origin: old variety from Croatia
- Sleeve color and shape: yellow-green
- Grain color: wine red with light speckles, very round
- Taste: delicate and delicious
- Special features: very productive
Dynajec
- Origin: Poland
- Sleeve color and shape: elongated green
- Grain color: wine red-white speckled
Floreta
- Origin: Spain
- Sleeve color and shape: green ringed
- Flower color: yellow
- Grain color: white with brown-black markings on the navel
- Taste: buttery
Gold of Bacau
- Origin: Old runner bean variety from Romania
- Sleeve color and shape: long, flat, yellow
- Grain color: brown or gray
- Flower color: white
- Special features: early variety, very productive
- Taste: stringless, delicate, very aromatic
Emperor Frederick
- Origin: old, German pole bean variety
- Sleeve color and shape: green with purple speckles or discoloration
- Grain color: violet to bluish
- Flower color: violet
Monastery women
- Origin: old Swiss runner bean variety
- Sleeve color and shape: light green, short
- Grain color: half white, half wine red
- Flower color: white to yellowish
- Taste: very tasty
- Special features: good growth
Mocha with Cherry
- Origin: Old runner bean species from Bulgaria
- Sleeve color and shape: green, wide
- Grain color: half white, half orange-brown with red speckles
- Flower color: white
Pea Bean
- Origin: Historic pole bean variety from England
- Sleeve color and shape: short, green
- Grain color: half white, half wine red
- Flower color: white-yellowish
San Michele
- Origin: Old variety from Italy
- Sleeve color and shape: green
- Grain color: cream-colored with red speckles or wine red (sub-variety 'Rosso')
Sietske
- Origin: Historic pole bean variety from the Netherlands
- Sleeve color and shape: light green
- Grain color: straw yellow
Weinländerring
- Origin: Old Swiss variety
- Sleeve color and shape: light green with purple speckles
- Grain color: brown, beige, black speckled
- Special features: very productive, stringless
