Low beans?

[Justcallmemrbloom]

Low beans? At least that's what my uncle said they were as we planted the first things in my allotment. So as soon as I got home I Google low beans and I'm still none the wiser!

All I know is that we planted them in a row about 8 inches apart and 2 inches deep and that he swears they're the tastiest things ever! I wonder if it's a bit of a Norfolk saying for French beans or dwarf beans perhaps?

Any ideas what the old boy is on about?

[muddled]

could it be broad beans? Sometimes also known as field beans or cow beans.

dwarf french beans are very frost tender so I doubt an experienced gardener would be sowing them outside this early in the year.

[Snoop Puss]

I'm guessing dwarf beans. Did you get a look at the seeds?

It's interesting he should call them low beans, as that's what they call them here.

[Alison]

Can't you ask him?

[Guest]

I am am intrigued on what they are. It is not a Norfolk term I have come across. I would have thought low referred to dwarf beans but if it is planted now by an older generation Norfolk person and described as tasty I would think it is broad bean.

Please let us know when you find out

[veggiechicken]

Maybe he was being politically correct?

or its a family joke?
Ask him!!

[Alison]

What did the seeds look like? That could help as Broad Bean seeds look nothing like French Beans.

[Justcallmemrbloom]

The answer is...

Had a beer with the old boy tonight. Turns out they are French beans, though he couldn't understand why I didn't know what low beans are!

I'm not so sure I'm going to get a lot of joy from them but it's been fun trying to work out what is meant to grow.

[Snoop Puss]

Had a beer with the old boy tonight. Turns out they are French beans, though he couldn't understand why I didn't know what low beans are!

I'm not so sure I'm going to get a lot of joy from them but it's been fun trying to work out what is meant to grow.

Glad that's sorted!

[Thelma Sanders]

I'm not so sure I'm going to get a lot of joy from them

They're quite productive as long as they don't dry out completely, I tuck a few in wherever there's space

[Jay-ell]

I'm not so sure I'm going to get a lot of joy from them but it's been fun trying to work out what is meant to grow.

First year I grew dwarf french beans I only got a few pods per plant and thought I'd stick with the climbers. Second year I threw a few seeds into some space next to my dalek and got LOADS of pods both fresh and for drying. Definitely grow them this year as I can pop one in here and there without wigwams etc.

[Snoop Puss]

On my plot, dwarf ones do better than climbers (too windy). But I once grew a huge bed of dwarf French beans. Very few pods but an absolute mass of lovely looking leaves. Turns out they had too much muck. Now I give them a bit of wood ash or P and K and very little muck. They do really well after my first early potatoes come out. I wouldn't be without them. If the frosts are a bit slow in coming, they crop for ages.