How do I enter the competition?
30 Barlotto bean plants were handed out to children at the Friends of the Earth's Green Fayre on Saturday 14th May held at Chinnor Village Hall.
There are 2 categories in the competition: Category 1: the tallest bean plant and Category 2 the longest bean. To enter the competition, a photograph of the longest bean (photographed measured against a rule) and/or the tallest plant (photographed measured against a rule or by some other measure) should be sent, together with the child's name, contact details and age to greeningchinnor@gmail.com by 27th August 2016.
Important – to Mums and Dads
The results will be announced in our September newsletter. If your child is included in the photograph(s) that are sent in, please state when you send the photos to Greening Chinnor that you are happy for the picture to be included in our newsletter. You can sign up to our newsletter at www.greeningchinnor.blogspot.co.uk
Growing your Barlotto Climbing Bean
What is a Barlotto Bean? A barlotto bean is very much like a runner bean and can be grown (and eaten) in exactly the same way. They are even better than runner beans as if not picked, and left on the plant, they will turn a very pretty spotted red and black and can be left to dry.
How do you grow them? They can be planted in a large pot, grow bag or in the ground. They grow up to about 2 metres tall and if the growing tip (bud at the end) is picked off they will give lots more side shoots and more beans.
Make sure they are watered well particularly, to start with. Protect from frost (do not plant out in the garden for another couple of weeks without protection) and protect from slugs and snails.
They will need something to climb up – a couple of 6 foot bamboo canes are perfect. Make sure they are securely fixed. The plant will wind around the pole all by itself.
What if you want to grow some more? You can buy them in the shops (or get them from the Chinnor allotment shop on Sunday morning a lot cheaper).
