Nikki Green Bean History

(Phaseolus vulgaris) Very thin, shoestring-type, French filet beans. Difficult to find in the States. Very small white seeds. Excellent yields of 5-6″ fine fleshed pods. Will do well if sown indoors in small pots and then transplanted. This variety thrives in warm weather and is sensitive to windy conditions. 50 days.

Growing Nikki Bean

Green beans are a warm weather vegetable and are planted after the last expected spring frost. Aim to seed when the soil temperature reaches 70 F. When growing green beans pick a site with at least eight hours of daily sun and moderately fertile, well-drained soil. Beans are very low maintenance vegetables and once they’re growing well, require little fussing. Beans can be susceptible to fungal diseases, so it’s important to stay out of the bean patch when the weather is wet. Consistent moisture results in the highest quality harvest, so water weekly if there has been no rain, paying careful attention to irrigation when the plants are flowering and producing pods.

Raised beds are ideal, but green beans can also be grown in pots and planters. Keep an eye out for slugs, taking action if necessary. Mexican bean beetles are another common bean pest with the adults resembling ladybugs. They are orange-red and have sixteen black spots on their backs.

Preserving And Storing Beans

You can freeze fresh green beans without blanching. You’re just going to trim the ends off, chop into desired sizes, wash them and freeze.

Nikki Bean Recipes

Nikki Green Beans go well with any recipe that requires beans, they can be a side dish to any meal you make.

Bean Nutrition

one cup of Green beans contain:

• 28 calories
• 0.55 grams of fat
• 5.66 grams of carbohydrate
• 2.6 grams of fiber
• 1.94 grams of sugar
• 1.42 grams of protein
•  calcium
•  iron
• 1 magnesium
•  phosphorus
• potassium
• vitamin A
• vitamin K
•  folate

Other Bean Varieties Worth Checking Out

 The Lazy Housewife Bean was Originally introduced by W. Atlee Burpee and Company in 1885. For the past 15 years another variety has been sold as Lazy Housewife, but it was not true-to-type. This is the true Lazy Housewife as originally described by Burpee’s description, “the pods are green, entirely stringless, of extra fine flavor, exceedingly rich and buttery when cooked.” The beans, when dry, are perfectly round and white. They look like little pearls. If you miss using them as a snap bean, you can still use them for shelling or even as a dry bean.

 The Green Flageolet Bean is the “caviar of beans.” It’s a real delicacy, and usually very hard to find. Unless you frequent gourmet food stores and comb through specialty cooking catalogs, you’ve probably never seen them for sale. Their delicate, creamy flavor belies their hardiness – they won’t fall apart in the cooking process. Use them in soups and stews, but make sure to try them in cold salads, too. The Green Flageolet has the odd ability to retain chlorophyll longer than any other bean, even after cooking, hence the name. This colorful bean adds a host of nutrients, including powerful antioxidants, to your diet.