1.   In the South, the most popular shelling bean is the lima, although black-eyed peas and butter beans run close behind.

2.   Pick shelling beans before the beans inside have dried and when the fat pods are soft.

3.   Shelling beans are as easy to grow as snap beans, and they come in both bush and pole varieties.

4.   The Italian cannellini are also classic shelling beans, the best ones to use in minestrone soup.