Borlotto Di Vigevano

Family: Fabaceae Legume

A slow, sunlit harvest of Borlotto Di Vigevano brings a wonderfully creamy, nutty flavor with a signature speckled beauty—each dry bean reveals a warm, rosy blush over a pale ground.

The texture is satisfyingly firm yet tender, ideal for hearty dry-bean staples and richly flavored simmered dishes, where its distinctive character shines. Grow this classic Italian heirloom for a dependable 95-day rhythm and a pantry-worthy bounty that feels as good as it tastes.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 95 DaysHabit: Bush

Botanical illustration of Borlotto Di Vigevano

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Direct Sow
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 25th
Harvest Begins	Jul 29th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	95
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Bush
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	60
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

A borlotti heirloom with a bean-to-sauce ratio that stays creamy without turning grainy—great when you want the pot liquor to cling to the spoon. Cook low and slow until the skins relax, then lean into olive oil, garlic, and rosemary so the nutty warmth doesn’t get bullied by acidity.

Best Uses

slow-simmered borlotti-style bean stew with aromatics
thick purée for crostini or pan-drippings—no need for smoothing with dairy
batch-cooked beans for salads after a quick vinaigrette soak
Italian-inspired minestrone or ham-and-bean pot simmer

Flavor Profile

creamy, nutty richness warm, lightly rosy sweetness tender-firm bean bite slow-braised savoriness

Kitchen Pairings

olive oil garlic rosemary tomato onion prosciutto

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my Borlotto Di Vigevano beans getting brown spots or leaves that look “shot through,” and what should I do?

Look for angular brown spots with yellow halos on leaves—this is a common bean leaf spot that spreads when foliage stays wet. Remove and discard affected leaves, water at the base (not overhead), and improve airflow by spacing plants so leaves don’t touch. If it keeps progressing, start a preventative spray with a copper-based fungicide according to the label, especially after humid or rainy spells.

How often should I water Borlotto Di Vigevano during the main growing phase (from flowering onward)?

Water to keep the top 1–2 inches of soil consistently moist but not soggy, which for many home gardens works out to about 1 inch per week total rainfall plus irrigation. Check daily during hot weather: if the soil surface crusts or the top inch feels dry, water deeply. Avoid letting the soil swing from dry to waterlogged during flowering and pod fill, because Borlotto beans can drop flowers or develop thin pods.

How can I tell when Borlotto Di Vigevano is ready to harvest for dry beans at ~95 days?

Harvest when pods are fully filled and the plants have largely browned, and the pods feel dry and papery. Shell a few: the beans should be hard, matte, and the seed coat pattern should be well defined (the mottled “pinto-like” look). If beans still dent easily with a fingernail, leave the rest for several more days and check again.