PAT Toscana

Bean from the eye of the Valdarno

The Valdarno Eye bean is a Traditional Agricultural Product (PAT) on the national list approved by the Ministry of Agriculture And Forestry, whose requirements are regulated by the production discipline of the Tuscany region.

Features

The Valdarno-eyed bean belongs to the species Vigna unguiculata.
The pods, matte green, medium filamentous, non-curved and fine, reach 20 cm in length and are 5 mm wide.
On the plant grow attached apically to groups of 3-4.
The flowers are white tending to purple; it is consumed everywhere as fresh beans, but it is also used dry.
Some seeds are browns tending to the light, others tend to rust with a dark spot in the ilo.

Cultivation

It is seeded from the end of April to the end of July (the best period is late May).
In the past it was sown after the harvesting of wheat.

Normally the distance between the rows is 70 cm and 2-3 cm on the row.
He prefers loose soils and does not like water stagnation, rarely needs to be irrigated.

Harvesting takes place from late July to scale and can be up to October.
The seeds are taken dry from the lower stages of the legume and are left to dry further in the sun to store them under fresh glass.

This cultivar, typical of the Upper Valdarno, is very interesting.
The seed used is the traditional one and is the result of frequent exchanges between the various growers in the area.

It is currently not considered endangered because in the growing area it is still quite widespread, although mainly in vegetable gardens for family consumption.

If the bean is eaten fresh it is called “croissant bean” for the characteristic distribution of green beans on the stem, when instead it is eaten dry is called “gentle” for its excellent digestibility.

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