Pelligrini Pole Bean

An heirloom Italian bean cherished by Seattle writer, gardener, and bon vivant Angelo Pellegrini, who tended it in his garden for over fifty years. Years after Angelo’s death his son gave the last of the seed stock to a local restaurant and they managed to bulk up the seed supply. Today it listed on the Slow Food Ark of Taste as a treasure that needs to be grown more widely.Pods are pale green, slender, and stringless when young, but the true reward is the shelly or dry beans which are creamy, deeply flavorful, and meant to be savored simply with olive oil, as Pellegrini did. Strong climbing vines yield generously and stand up well to late-season weather. A bean to grow slowly, cook gently, and eat with reverence.