Drybean North Holland Brown is a old Dutch Heirloom variety. This old fashioned bean is very worth while to grow yourself. This variety has a delicious and slightly sweet flavour that combines very well with all kind of recipes. This very delicious, nutrious bean is recommedation worthy for beginning growers and for the advanced growers alike. It's easy to grow and very long to preserve. It doesn't need any support.
You can eat the firm beans fresh or dried. The pods aren't edible. Use this bean in soups, stews, casseroles, stir-fries, as vegetable with bacon and mustard and in other recipes with beans. The beans stay firm during cooking and don't fall apart. Non hardy annual. Height: 25 - 40 cm.
Indoor sowing: april
Outdoor sowing: mid may - june
Germination: 7-14 days
Germination temp..: 18 - 22ºC
Sowing depth: 3 - 4 cm
Plant distance: 10 cm
Sowing distance in rows: 40 - 50 cm
Plant position: sunny
Harvest period: august- october
Sow indoors in individual pots about 3-4 cm deep for an early harvest from april on. Cover the seeds with a thick layer of soil because these are dark germinators. Keep moist and warm. Plant the seedlings on a warm, sunny and sheltered plot from mid may on, when there's no longer any danger of nightfrosts. Keep 40 - 50 cm apart. Keep moist and weedfree.
Sow outdoors on a sunny, sheltered plot from mid may, when there's no longer any danger of nightfrosts. Cover the seeds with a thick layer of soil. Beans don't tolerate cold soil. Sow them warmed up soil. This variety doesn't need support. Fertilize the plant when it flowers. Let the harvested pods dry outdoors in the sun till they are dry and brown. Remove the inside beans to eat them. These beans can be stored for a couple of months. Soak them about 8 hours before cooking them. Protect against birds with nets.
