[Salmo]

Does anyone grow butter beans?

Can they be grown in the UK or do they need a warmer climate to thrive?

[mumofstig]

I grow these
http://www.dtbrownseeds.co.uk/s.nl?search=spagna+bianco#.Vs3_XWfcvIU



or these
http://www.seedsofitaly.com/BUTTERBEAN_FAGIOLO_DI_SPAGNA_UK_only/p1834925_8313269.aspx

[Goneterseed]

I love butter beans and grew these last year............... http://www.dtbrownseeds.co.uk/Peas-Beans/Runner-Bean-Butterbean-Czar-Seeds.html

Unfortunately, the slugs like them more than I do and I spent more time picking the slimey devils than I did beans. To produce the white beans that we like, they need to stay on the vines for a long period giving our little friends more time to devour them.  I didn't get much of a harvest.

[Potty Plotty Lotty]

Or how about Greek Gigantes:

http://www.realseeds.co.uk/runnerbeans.html

Not quite  butter beans but maybe similar.

[AnneB]

I have grown both The Czar and also Greek Gigantes from Real seeds for their beans.  In fact, the Gigantes would be for beans only, they aren't good in the pod, The Czar is dual purpose.
I got a reasonable number of beans from both, but unless you plant a lot the bean yield will be smallish.  I grew 8 Gigantes last year and got enough seed for this year plus enough for about 5 meals for 3 people.

I found them both very easy to grow as they are runner bean types.   The Czar is more of a cannellini bean size, the Gigantes are large and very like butter beans.  Both very tasty.

No problems with slugs on either.

[mumofstig]

wrt the Spagna beans, I linked to above - I think of them as a sow and leave to grow crop. If you've space - put up a wigwam with plenty of canes, with lots of string round for them to hold on to. Sow 2or3 seeds to a cane when soil is warm enough and just let them get on with it. I only water if it's a very dry year, and we've not had many of those lately 

The bean pods are pretty fibrous, I really wouldn't fancy trying to eat them.
Wait until the pods are going crispy and then start picking them before they start to drop their seeds everywhere 

[sunshineband]

I have seeds for Gigantes this year, so was pleased to read what your experience was AnneB. Thank you. Hoping for enough for the two of us, maybe 8- 10 meals.