[harry]

I'd like to grow butter beans, is it possible and what seeds do I buy.

[lettice]

I know someone who grew these in Southern France.
Be careful though, there are many seeds from Greece and Italy that are named butter bean but they are not the butterbeans that you get in the tins. They are a type runner bean and not the same.

The tinned variety is a Green Lima Bean.
There are climbing bush and dwarf  types.
They are very tender and will not withstand a frost.
Seed germination requires temp above 15c and need that throughout the growing season of four + months.

You can buy dried organic butter beans from health shops. These would be the correct type of bean and you could try those.

[mumofstig]

I grow Butter Bean Spagna Bianco
from here
http://www.seedsofitaly.com/Butterbean_Fagiolo_Di_Spagna_UK_only/p1834925_8313269.aspx
or here
http://www.dtbrownseeds.co.uk/Peas-Beans/Unusual-Bean-Seed_2/Bean-Shelling-Spagno-Bianco-Seeds.html#.WBcPDGdFDIU
Photo from my diary

(Date on camera was broken so please ignore that  )

They are large white starchy beans and taste like the ones sold in tins IMO I use them to make Gigantes Plaki (Greek oven baked beans ) 

[harry]

Thanks for the information I will try some next season.
 I grew red kidney beans this year they were very successful.

[AnneB]

Lettice mentions to beware of imposters from Greece and Italy. 

I actually grow the Greek Gigantes beans from Real Seeds.   They are a type of runner bean and are very easy to grow.   I find that there is very little difference between these and the butter beans you get in tins and grow them as a good substitute. 

[Goneterseed]

I grew these last year.

http://www.dtbrownseeds.co.uk/Peas-Beans/Runner-Bean-Butterbean-Czar-Seeds.html#.WByGi_REfCM

[harry]

I've just been looking at the Greek bean seeds on the Real Seeds website, I'll try those and the Czar beans next year to compare them.

[harry]

I just received my Greek Gigantes and Czar butter beans from The Real Seed Catalogue, once they grow can you freeze the beans or do you have to dry them 

[mumofstig]

You can freeze them, but as 'shelly' beans they won't have the starchy texture you get from cooking the dried beans.