Borlotto Supremo Nano

Family: Fabaceae Legume

Unmistakably handsome in the dry pile, Borlotto Supremo Nano brings a velvety, creamy-beige seed with bold cranberry-red mottling that feels almost painterly to the eye.

When rehydrated, the beans turn tender and creamy with a gentle, nutty depth—ideal for hearty dry-bean favorites and slow-simmered favorites where their speckled character shines. Compact and garden-friendly, this nano type is a reliable choice for home plots, delivering dependable harvests around 90 days from sowing.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 90 DaysHabit: Bush

Botanical illustration of Borlotto Supremo Nano

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 24th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	90
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)	45
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

These nano borlottos hydrate into beans that go genuinely creamy without falling apart, giving you that spoon-coating texture you want in a long simmer. The cranberry-red mottling translates to a warm, nutty, lightly sweet profile that loves smoky pork and tomato-based braises.

Best Uses

slow-simmered borlotti-style bean stew with aromatics
thumb-sized mash for bean dip or thick toast spread
seasoned bean salad that holds up to a vinaigrette (less watery than many fresh beans)
soups where you want the broth to coat the spoon

Flavor Profile

creamy, tender interiors gentle nutty flavor soft earthy sweetness silky, bean-sauce thickness when simmered

Kitchen Pairings

onion garlic bay leaf tomato olive oil bacon

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my Borlotto Supremo Nano beans turning yellow and developing silvery streaks on leaves, and what should I do?

This is often thrips activity, which causes leaf silvery streaking and can lead to yellowing. Check the undersides of leaves and remove badly affected foliage early. Spray with insecticidal soap (focus on leaf undersides) and repeat every 5–7 days for 2–3 rounds; keep weeds down to reduce thrips habitat.

How often should I water Borlotto Supremo Nano beans during flowering and pod set?

During flowering and the start of pod development, keep the soil consistently evenly moist—typically about 1 inch of water per week total, split into 2–3 watering days. Let the top 1 inch of soil dry slightly between waterings, but don’t allow the root zone to dry out fully, which can cause poor pod set. Use a deep soak rather than frequent light sprinkling to keep pods forming reliably.

How do I know when Borlotto Supremo Nano beans are ready to harvest?

Harvest for dry beans when pods are fully filled and the plants’ pods are mostly dry and papery, usually around 90 days from sowing. For best results, pick pods on a dry day, then finish drying indoors until beans rattle inside the pods and are hard enough to resist denting. If you want shell beans earlier, harvest when pods are plump but seeds are still tender and the skins are glossy, then dry lightly before storage.