GROWING NOTES

Amend soil well before sowing with lots of aged manure or compost. Protect young seedlings from marauding birds by covering with plastic berry baskets at planting time, removing when plants get crowded. Be sure to thin properly — you will have more productive, disease-free plants if seedlings have room to grow and mature.

HARVEST AND USE

Pick these fine-flavored gourmet beans while bean pods are young and slender. The more beans you pick, the more the plants will produce. Steam, sauté or roast them quickly just until tender-crisp and serve simply to fully enjoy their tempting flavor.