Rare Italian Heirloom with wonderful taste
Marvel of Venice is an Italian Heirloom also known as Meraviglia di Venezia in Italy. It is a climbing snap bean, pole variety that produces long slender honey yellow bean pods, of up to 20 cm long, with black oval beans. The large climbing vines need to be supported by trellis or fence. The Marvel of Venice is famous for its superior meaty texture and flattened shape and rich and buttery bean flavor. It is classically used in the dish, fagiolini al’uccelletto in a tomato based sauce. The meaty bean pod is edible as a whole when young and can be used both raw and cooked. The bean pods can be left to mature on the vine and utilized as a dried or shelling bean. Marvel of Venice beans are very versatile and can be steamed, braised, sautéed, simmered, grilled, and deep-fried. They stand up well to prolonged cooking making them a fabulous addition to stews and soups. Their flavor pairs well with tomatoes, garlic, shallots, fennel in a stew, lemon, dried red chillies, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, pecorino, parmesan cheese in a salad or fresh herbs, butter and pancetta.
Scientific Name: Phaseolus vulgaris L.
Plant Life Cycle: annual
Optimal Germination Temperature: 16 °C
Germination time in days: 4-10 days
Indicative Days to maturity: 90 days
Sunlight: Full sun
Soil requirement: rich, sandy well drained
Sowing and cultivation: Sow seeds at 2.5-3 cm depth after all danger of frost has passed. Space seeds about 20 cm apart in rows that are 70 cm apart.
