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  • Climbing Beans

    Because the various beans I have were slow at germinating, I planted a few more, now have about 4 at the base of each cane, is this a mistake? Or will I have a bumper crop?

  • #2
    I've only done a max of two when pushed for space, they do get very tangled and messy. Could you pop some in to climb up somewhere/something else, cottage garden style, in a flower border etc?
    Nestled somewhere in the Cambridgeshire Fens. Good soil, strong winds and 4 Giant Puffballs!
    Always aim for the best result possible not the best possible result

    Forever indebted to Potstubsdustbins

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    • #3
      I don't have too much experience, but I would stop short of four! Last year i did two at the bottom of some of mine as I was tight for space, and even then they were quite crowded. The biggest problem I had then was the weight and size of the structure because of the number of plants - when we had a windy spell it all blew over - something I am trying to avoid happening this year by spacing the beans out better and strengthening the cane supports.

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      • #4
        Unfortunately, I only have an allotment, no garden, and all my beds are now full. I’ll just keep an eye

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        • #5
          Why not consider an experiment, Dorothy? Limit some canes to two beans and others to four and see what difference it makes? You'll know for next year what to do in your environment.

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          • #6
            I grow runners one to a cane then tall french beans I have put 2.

            Oddly when I've over wintered my runners they each throw up 4 or 5 stems and I do get a good crop from them.
            Location....East Midlands.

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            • #7
              Thanks all, it really it strange, last year I planted several courgette plants around the base of bean canes, and guess what, some seeds must have survived the winter and up they’ve popped! Yet trying to germinate courgettes this year has not been easy!

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              • #8
                I used to sow five beans per pole Dot and they did alright. The only reason I now sow less is because we don't need that many beans.
                Location ... Nottingham

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                • #9
                  I suspect that you will be very fed up with beans by the end of the summer!
                  I think they will grow fine, but keep an eye on the weight.

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                  • #10
                    I’m sure friends etc will be grateful to receive a ‘bean gift’!

                    and they freeze well

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Dorothyrouse View Post
                      and they freeze well
                      Do you blanch them first?

                      Nestled somewhere in the Cambridgeshire Fens. Good soil, strong winds and 4 Giant Puffballs!
                      Always aim for the best result possible not the best possible result

                      Forever indebted to Potstubsdustbins

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        No, I just clean them and loose freeze

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                        • #13
                          Dorothy rouse That's really good to know, thank you
                          Nestled somewhere in the Cambridgeshire Fens. Good soil, strong winds and 4 Giant Puffballs!
                          Always aim for the best result possible not the best possible result

                          Forever indebted to Potstubsdustbins

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            I’ve got some left in the freezer from last year and they taste fine.
                            Location....East Midlands.

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                            • #15
                              I've found French beans suffer greatly in texture (although not taste) when you freeze them. I tried blanching and freezing raw, and in both cases when I cooked them they developed what I would call a "squeaky" texture (that is, they squeak unpleasantly on your teeth as you chew them).
                              The way I found to solve this is to almost fully cook them before freezing them, then just cook them for a short time when you come to eat them. This seems to get rid of the squeakiness.

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