Now that I’ve got you thinking about seed catalogs let me provide you with Tom’s two cents on some of the prizes found on the pages within. Indulge me as I wax on about my favorite pole green bean, a French filet or haricot vert variety called Fortex.
Even with a name that seems better suited to the drug store aisle, Fortex outshines all other beans in my vegetable garden and on my plate. I may plant other varieties, but Fortex is the green bean I eat. 
Some of the reasons I grow Fortex Green Beans:
- vigorous, productive vines
- I prefer pole beans (trellising required)
- exceptional green bean flavor
- pods are exceptionally long
- completely stringless
- beans are delicious at any size
- freeze well too, if you have any left after the growning season.
I forgot to mention they’re Boz’s favorite green bean as well. (Gracie prefers peas.)
Seed sources: Johnny’s Seeds, Territorial Seed Company, Burpee, Swallowtail Garden Seeds
18 responses so far ↓
1 Sharon // Jan 23, 2010 at 5:40 pm
You make a great case for them. They’re quite different in texture, but I love Romanos, too. So substantial they feel like a protein.
2 renae // Jan 23, 2010 at 5:47 pm
Tom, you should be working for a seed catalog.
3 tom | tall clover farm // Jan 24, 2010 at 12:59 am
Sharon, I’ve never grown Romanos. I shall remedy that this year. Thanks for the tip.
4 June // Jan 24, 2010 at 4:17 pm
Wow Tom. Thank you for adding JBug’s Kitchen Antics to your food blog list. I’m honored to be among such elite company. Holy cow – tell me I’m not dreaming. BTW, I have a feeling I’ll be calling on your expertise re gardening when we’re back in the land of the living in the Pacific Northwest. Can’t wait!
5 tom | tall clover farm // Jan 24, 2010 at 4:41 pm
Thanks June, and why wouldn’t I add it; I could dine on your blog every night. Good thing we’re not neighbors, I’d be borrowing a cup of sugar at dinner time more times than not. And as for NW gardening questions, I’m happy to help.
”
6 noble pig // Jan 24, 2010 at 10:06 pm
That last pic made me laugh out loud, loved it!
7 Pomona Belvedere // Jan 25, 2010 at 4:56 am
I also loved the Bog-and-bean (as distinct from Bogbean) photo. And I love hearing about varieties of plants in such detail. Wonder how well this bean would do in the hot, dry summers, where I am?
8 Pomona Belvedere // Jan 25, 2010 at 4:57 am
Oops, my bad, that was Boz and bean. There is no bozbean, but there probably should be.
9 brion // Jan 25, 2010 at 6:48 pm
time for a Boz and Gracie calender
10 ApsoRescueColorado // Jan 25, 2010 at 8:05 pm
Tom … given B & G’s taste for veggies, do they “help” with the gardening? We ended up fencing off our small garden area … after we kept finding two little Tibetan “goats” standing smack dab in the middle, grazing on the lettuce and cilantro!
11 Tom // Jan 25, 2010 at 8:48 pm
Brion…Good idea…12 months of the best-looking beasts around!
Apso pals, yes B&G are a little too teeth on in the garden, carting off melons, jumping for ears of corn and bulldog-dozing for potatoes. For dogs without snozes, they have a keen sense of smell for the ripe.
12 Sophie // Jan 28, 2010 at 8:58 am
I have never seen this long bean here in Belgium.
My father grows the normal green beans in his garden & does these taste as normal ones???
13 tom | tall clover farm // Jan 28, 2010 at 3:55 pm
Hi Sophie, yes, this green bean has a rich tasting green bean flavor. One seed catalog describes it as, “A gourmet’s delight, this stringless French variety is everything you wish for in a bean: tender, green, mildly sweet, nutty, meaty, savory. ” I hope I’m not overselling it, but it’s my favorite green bean.
14 Renae // Jan 28, 2010 at 5:51 pm
Geesh. Stop overselling the green beans. (just kidding–there’s no way to hold back a green-bean advocate.)
15 tom | tall clover farm // Jan 28, 2010 at 7:36 pm
Renae, you’ll be sorry when I start in on kale and beets.
16 Eileen @ Passions to Pastry // Jan 29, 2010 at 2:34 am
My Pipi will only eat green beans if they’re seared in olive oil and sprinkled with fleur de sel. But I guess that’s my favorite way to eat them too.
17 At Stake: Pole Beans Need Your Support // Jun 24, 2010 at 4:07 pm
[...] Fortex and Romano green beans have sprouted, and they are looking for my support–something [...]
18 cozsen bamboo » Blog Archive » What’s at Stake: Pole Beans Need Your Support // Sep 30, 2010 at 2:03 am
[...] My Fortex and Romano green beans have sprouted, and they are looking for my support–something I’ve come to expect in a good pole bean. [...]
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