Borlotti and haricot are dried-bean varieties of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) -- the exact same species as this site's French bean, just grown to full dry maturity rather than picked young as fresh pods. Common bean is mostly self-pollinating, so the cross-pollination risk between the two is more modest than broad bean's, but it's real enough to matter if you're saving seed from both. Unlike broad bean, it's genuinely frost-tender and has to wait for warm soil regardless of zone.
Water need
Even moisture through flowering and pod-set improves the harvest -- this stage is the most sensitive to both drought and heat.
Calories at a glance
3,380 kcal/kg dried -- essentially matching broad bean and pea in this site's calorie-dense pulse tier (scale is log-based across all 55 crops in the calculator).
Temperature Range by Month
Month on the bottom, temperature up the side. The pale green background is what the plant can survive at all -- fatal above or below it, labelled directly on the chart where that applies to your zone. The coral band is its ideal range, and only fades in during the months this zone would actually have the crop in the ground -- reusing the exact same sowing/harvesting data as the calendar further down the page. The blue line is real monthly climate data (not a modelled estimate) for a representative rural/agricultural location in this zone -- a small farming town or agricultural research station rather than a major city, to avoid the warmer bias city weather stations have. For the actual verdict on how well this crop does in your zone, see the badge at the top of the page -- that's based on the site's own researched yield figures, not this chart.
Quick Start: Sowing to Drying
- Sow direct after frost risk has passed. Sow direct once all frost risk is over and the soil has warmed -- common bean is genuinely frost-tender and won't forgive an early sowing.
- Support climbing types. Climbing varieties need a sturdy support from the start; bush varieties are self-supporting and simpler for a first attempt.
- Keep watering steady through flowering. Even moisture while the plant flowers and sets pods improves the harvest -- this is the stage most sensitive to both drought and heat stress.
- Leave pods on the plant to dry fully. For dried beans, let pods stay on the plant until they've dried and rattle when shaken, rather than picking them young the way you would for a fresh-eating variety.
- Shell, finish drying, and store. Shell the dried pods, spread the beans out somewhere warm and airy for a final week, then store in sealed jars.
Sowing & Harvesting Calendar
Pick your zone under "Temperature Range by Month" above and this updates too. Unlike broad bean, every zone here shows a spring sowing window only -- common bean's frost tenderness rules out the autumn-sowing option broad bean gets in milder zones.
Calories & Yield
Borlotti/Haricot bean is a genuine calorie staple when dried at about 3,380 kcal per kg -- essentially matching broad bean and pea. Subtropical, Mediterranean, Maritime and Continental zones all give the same best yield here.
| Climate Zone | Yield per plant | Calories per plant | Viability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tropical / Humid | 0.12 kg | 405.6 kcal | Viable |
| Subtropical | 0.15 kg | 507 kcal | Viable -- best yield |
| Mediterranean | 0.15 kg | 507 kcal | Viable -- best yield |
| Temperate Maritime | 0.15 kg | 507 kcal | Viable -- best yield |
| Temperate Continental | 0.15 kg | 507 kcal | Viable -- best yield |
| Cool / Boreal | 0.1 kg | 338 kcal | Viable |
| Arid / Semi-Arid | 0.12 kg | 405.6 kcal | Viable |
| Highland / Alpine | 0.1 kg | 338 kcal | Viable |
Figures per plant sown, dried weight, from the site's own crop database. Borlotti/Haricot is viable in every one of this site's eight zones.
Varieties Worth Knowing
Borlotti bean varieties mainly differ in pod pattern and growth habit. Both below are open-pollinated (OP), meaning seed saved from them breeds true and is worth keeping under this site's seed-saving approach; neither is an F1 hybrid.
Seed Saving -- Quick Guide
Borlotti is Phaseolus vulgaris, the same species as French bean, kidney bean, pinto, navy and cannellini -- all will cross with each other, but mostly self-pollinate so the risk stays low even grown close together.
SERVINGS, NOT DAILY CALORIES This works out plate-sized servings of borlotti bean from your seed during its fresh harvest window only, not your group's full daily calorie needs. For that, use the main calculator.
Estimated for your selected zone above, using this site's own germination, loss and yield figures for borlotti bean -- a helping is roughly what you'd put on a plate as part of a meal with other veg. Treat it as a planning estimate, not a promise.
Storage & Preservation
Grown here specifically for dried storage -- the entire plant is allowed to dry before harvest, then the pods are shelled and the beans stored in sealed jars.
Stored this way in a cool, dry place, dried Borlotti/Haricot beans keep for years rather than months, the same storage league as wheat, oats and this site's other dried staples.
Growing Borlotti/Haricot Bean Without Bought Inputs
Bean beetle and blackfly are the main pests to watch for on common bean.
Good spacing for airflow and picking off the worst-affected leaves early handles most pressure without any spray needed.
Like most legumes, common bean fixes some of its own nitrogen, though less dramatically than broad bean -- still a modest soil benefit worth factoring into a wider rotation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Borlotti/Haricot bean cross-pollinate with French bean?
Yes -- both are Phaseolus vulgaris, the same species, just grown for different endpoints (dried seed versus fresh pods). Common bean is mostly self-pollinating, so the risk is more modest than broad bean's, but it's real enough that isolation distance matters if you're saving pure seed from more than one variety.
Does it cross with broad bean or runner bean?
No. Broad bean is a different genus entirely (Vicia, not Phaseolus), and runner bean, despite the shared common name, is a different Phaseolus species (P. coccineus) that doesn't cross with common bean.
How cold and hot can Borlotti/Haricot bean survive?
It's genuinely frost-tender -- roughly 0°C to 32°C, with all frost risk needing to have passed before sowing or transplanting. Reproductive development is especially heat-sensitive too, and sustained day temperatures above about 30°C significantly cuts yield.
Why does the crop database recommend Aquadulce-style overwinter sowing for broad bean but not this crop?
Because common bean can't take the cold broad bean shrugs off -- it's frost-tender rather than frost-hardy, so it has to wait for the soil and air to warm in spring regardless of zone, unlike broad bean's genuine autumn-sowing option in milder zones.
Is Borlotti/Haricot bean a good calorie crop for self-sufficiency?
Very good -- around 3,380 kcal per kg dried, essentially matching broad bean and pea in the same calorie-dense pulse league as wheat.
Do I need pesticides to grow it?
No. Bean beetle and blackfly are the main pests, and picking off the worst-affected leaves early plus keeping plants well-spaced for airflow handles most pressure without any spray needed.