BEAN CLIMBING ‘Lohrey’s Natural Salt’
Botanical Name: Phaseolus vulgaris
Grown since the early 1900s by the Lohrey family in NW Tasmania. It is also called Lohreys Zebra, Lohreys Special, and Lowry’s Natural Salt (as it reputedly has a naturally salty flavor). Pods are slightly flattened and stringless. Green pods have a purple stripe down their seam then turn yellow with a red blush and/or streaks as they mature. Easily shelled when dry, with 5 to 7 seeds per pod. Freshly-shelled seeds are white and navy blue, drying into light brown with black stripes. This is a great dual-purpose bean that can be used as green beans or dried.
Plant Type: Annual climbing bean
Plant Height: Grows to 2 – 3 m; requires a trellis
Sow When:
- Temperate Subtropical: Spring to early summer
- Tropical: All year if frost-free; avoid Dec-Jan
Germination:
- 4 – 10 days
- Depth: 5 cm deep
Position: Full sun
Sow Where: Direct into the garden bed
Soil Type: Fertile, well-drained, pH 6.2 – 7
Spacing: 10 – 15 cm apart at the base of a trellis
Harvest: 70 days: pick daily, early in the morning for the best flavor
