At last!

[pickledtink]

Hoorah! Hooray!
French beans which have done everything but invade Poland and produce any beans have burst into fruition.
We are eating mighty fine beans every day now. A few months earlier would have been nice obviously but better late than never.

Isn't it amazing how you can forgive all when the taste is so utterly marvelous?

[Snadger]

Totally agree, I have never had a crop of french beans like I have this year! I go home with a carrier bag full most nights and even the big ones are tasty and stringless! Definately a must for next year!

[SueA]

Congrats Pickledtink, I only ever grow runners & mine have been O.K. this year but a lot of people say theirs have hardly set any beans. Do french beans cook & taste similar to runners? Might try them next year.

[Lesley Jay]

Sue french beans - I think - are far nicer tasting than runner beans and they don't go stringy. Last year I grew Blue Lake. These were fabulous. There was a smashing harvest off them and they grew exactly the same as runner beans. Then at the end of the season you can leave some pods on the plants to dry and shell the dried beans for casseroles and stews.

I also grow Kenyan Safari Dwarf french beans. These are the small fine green bean that you see in the shops. I love the taste of these too! They are a dwarf plant and are easily flattened by the rain.

[Snadger]

I grew an indeterminate variety at 19p a packet from Netto!

[pickledtink]

Congrats Pickledtink, I only ever grow runners & mine have been O.K. this year but a lot of people say theirs have hardly set any beans. Do french beans cook & taste similar to runners? Might try them next year.

They're a tad different but French are so easy to cook with no grotty tough stringy bits so they're far more user friendly. Especially if you're away or too busy to pick. It doesn't matter they don't go tough and inedible. Jest pick and cook.

[pickledtink]

I also grow Kenyan Safari Dwarf french beans. These are the small fine green bean that you see in the shops. I love the taste of these too! They are a dwarf plant and are easily flattened by the rain.

Mmmmmm. Gourmet delights.
How long do they take from planting out seedlings to fruition? I 'd love to grow these but my season is a bit on the short side.

[pickledtink]

I grew an indeterminate variety at 19p a packet from Netto!

So how did they do snadge? Are you fighting your way through mega bean central or what?

[Lesley Jay]

Not long really at all and you get loads of beans. They are definately worth growing.

[Snadger]

So how did they do snadge? Are you fighting your way through mega bean central or what?

Best crop I have ever had! Must admit I'm a bit sick of the sight of them now in fact when I come in from the lottie oh says "What you got in the bag, don't tell us, more bl***y beans.!

Which reminds me of another funny/sad story.....Came in with a bag of purple podded peas the other night....went to look for them and they were gone! Shock! Horror!
Asked oh if she had seen them she says "Oh you mean them, I put them in the bin, they were all black and blue!!!!!

[dexterdoglancashire]

Nice one PT! It's always super when something works, even if it takes longer than you expect! Take my chillis for example - turned red over the last few days! Yippee! They are in the oven drying as we speak! There's nowt like fresh, home grown veg is there?! DDl

[pickledtink]

Best crop I have ever had! Must admit I'm a bit sick of the sight of them now in fact when I come in from the lottie oh says "What you got in the bag, don't tell us, more bl***y beans.!

Which reminds me of another funny/sad story.....Came in with a bag of purple podded peas the other night....went to look for them and they were gone! Shock! Horror!
Asked oh if she had seen them she says "Oh you mean them, I put them in the bin, they were all black and blue!!!!!

Wahhhhhh!!!!
Looks like your beloved other is mighty tired of pod related veg. Remind her that just about anything can be boiled up with onion, potato and stock to be magically pulverised into great soup.
Then at dinner parties you spout the Italian name for whatever it is and look smug.

[pickledtink]

Nice one PT! It's always super when something works, even if it takes longer than you expect! Take my chillis for example - turned red over the last few days! Yippee! They are in the oven drying as we speak! There's nowt like fresh, home grown veg is there?! DDl

RED! You're in Lancashire with red chillis? None of mine look like turning and I'm in the South. Oh pooh. You may be one of my favouirite posters but I'm plunging needles into Dex dolls as we speak. S'not fair.....

[pickledtink]

Not long really at all and you get loads of beans. They are definately worth growing.

I'm going to try these. Where do you get your seeds from Lesley?

[Lesley Jay]

Normally Thompson and Morgan but let me check tomorrow because I might have plenty for next year and I could send you some.