[Kleftiwallah]

Well? anyone got any ideas what type of bean? seeds and seedlings these are ? I was given about ten seeds from an 'agricultural shop' in Lesbos Greece. Of course the label has gone !     5p piece for comparison of size.            Cheers, Tony.

[mumofstig]

are they not just fava beans ? (our equivalent is broad beans)

[Kleftiwallah]

I have no idea,  But I'll know when they grow ! ! !    Cheers,   Tony.

[mumofstig]

fava beans
pic here

[Kleftiwallah]

Respectfully disagree.  The beans are much smaller, rounder (but not round as a pea) and have a rough / velvety coat.   Cheers,   Tony.

[mumofstig]

I was trying to find an image on Google for the small fava beans I grew, here's a pic to give you some idea of the size - but I don't remember them having a velvety coat 

https://secure.gotethnicfoods.com/GotEthnicFoods/pictures/Regular/ME036.jpg

[chrissie B]

seen them loads of times dried on the market not tried them though good luck with them .
chrissie b

[Salmo]

These are not fava beans. Fava beans do not bring the seed leaves above ground like those in the picture.

[Christo]

Come on... they're not bean seeds. They're mini Jam Doughnuts. 

[Salmo]

Beware of giants

[Swing Swang]

Edible lupins

[Swing Swang]

Another thought - is the red colour a coating applied by the seed merchant? If you give the seeds a good wash are they pale yellow? Are they yellow inside? If so I'd say that they are lupins, the leaves look right too. If so they make a great salted snack for beer. The Portuguese call them tremoços, and I think that the Italian term is lupinos, English is probably Lupini Beans. I'll leave you to do a Google search to confirm.

SS

[Swing Swang]

A picture of some dried ones that I bought from a Portuguese deli last year (with 5 pence piece for comparison).

SS

[Swing Swang]

Any further comments Kleftiwallah seeing as you 'sabotaged' another thread to garner more replies to this one?

[operabunny]

Seeds of Italy have lupini:

http://www.seedsofitaly.com/product/368

Aren't lupins nitrogen fixers? If so these could be good for companion planting or green manure.