Roma II is a popular Italian green bean variety that produces heavy, continuous yields of 5 to 6-inch flattened pods. Released in 1978 as a more reliable and disease resistant strain of the original Roma bean, Roma II features compact, bush-type plants perform well under a variety of conditions. Although usually quite bushy in nature, some have reported that Roma II bush beans can develop short runners under certain environmental conditions. We have yet to experience this, and it reportedly occurs very rarely, but it is a known phenomenon for this variety. Also, note that this variety germinates more slowly than other bush beans. It also resents cool, wet soil. Do not pre-soak the seeds. Do not plant until nighttime temps consistently exceed 50 degrees. In terms of flavor, Roma beans are among the most flavorful we've grown. Their stringless, pale green pods can grow quite large without getting stringy or fibrous and they are renowned for their ability to retain their flavor even after being cooked. We love to sauté them in olive oil, adding a splash of soy sauce and some garlic powder just before serving. Harvests begin approximately 58 days after sowing. Each packet contains a minimum of 50 seeds.
