I guess we still don't know which variety it is, if it ever had a name. We just know the who brought and when this bean landed on this side of the pond. 2011 makes it 100 years this bean has been grown here. Just a youngster in the heirloom department.

Annette

Would be great if we had members in Italy who could tell if it is still grown there, and what they call it.

That's really great that the family now has them again!
Remy

That's good the mystery is solved. How did the grandson wind
up at your house? What page is Part 1 & 2?
I planted all the seeds you sent me last year. Unfortunately they
did not like the spot I planted them in and did poorly. The
bitter melon I had next to them did poorly also. Must have been
just a bad spot. Good luck with your beans this year. For me
it will be Rattlesnake, Roma and Dragon's Tongue.

Roper, I have known the grandson for many years, way back when I use to grow and show dahlias. I went to a dahlia show a year or so ago, he's still growing and showing, we got to chatting.
Somehow beans entered into the conversation, I haven't the slightest how that happened :). He started telling me about the beans his grandmother brought with her when she immigrated. The pieces started to fall into place when I told him what I knew about the ones I had, the info he offered up pretty much sealed it and he said he'd know for sure if he saw the beans. It's just taken us this long to get together.
His grandmother also brought a little brown bean which she used for baked bean dishes but I'm afraid that one is long gone. Back in 1965 when I was given these beans by a neighbor there were several people I knew growing them but I think I'm the only one who has kept them going.

The link below is where I started looking for the identity of the bean I've been growing for the past 40 or so years.

Annette

Here is a link that might be useful: My Italian Beans

Yes, I remember that post and admiring those pretty beans. That's
great that you kept them growing and now the grandson has some
back in his family. Isn't that funny how you knew him many years
ago and never knew his connection to your Italian beans.

Those beans are early and prolific producers too, I got masses of them. Too bad they didn't work out for you Roper, better luck next time.

Roper, you have mail.

Annette

thanks for the update annette.

i'm going to see how your beans do in the U.P. we are going up to the farm on a long sabbatical from work. not as bean friendly a place as the thumb region of michigan, but they should be ok.

keith

I have the same beans, all my dads side still lives in Italy and alot of my moms side too. I went a few years back and brought some seeds back. We have those beans in are family for years and years, as long as i can remeber and Im almost 47. I grow them to dry as shelling beans. There great in the middel of winter.

Fespo, what is the Italian name for this bean?