french beans

[stevep]

could anyone give me any info on how to grow french beans as it is the first time i have grown them i want to start them off in the pollytunnel then outdoors. i live in the northeast.

[Lesley Jay]

I start mine off in the greenhouse in April in cells - one bean per cell -and plant them out in May. I grow the climbing french bean Blue Lake and also the dwarf Safari Kenyan french bean. They both taste lovely.

[sewer rat]

French Beans

Hi Stevep
As Lesley says , Plant them in cells (or pots - I plant mine straight into 3 inch pots) in April. Place 1 bean in each, about 1 - 2 inches deep, water and leave them to get on with it. They should appear within 1 - 2 weeks.
Advice on planting out depends on whether you are growing a dwarf or climbing variety - well, not so much planting out as staking.
Cheers
Rat

[Lesley Jay]

I use cells because the greenhouse is full to overflowing. Tomatoes, cucumbers, courgettes, marrows and squashes are the ones lucky enough to get pots!

[JennieAtkinson]

I started mine off in root trainers last year as I had some left after the peas and runner beans. I found root trainers last year excellent as they gave me a bit more time to wait for the better weather - what better weather ??

I grew french beans only in the polytunnel, but you will see elsewhere (very early post) that they grew in circular twists, not one straight bean from about 8 plants. (They do fit very nicely on the plate though when cooked )

How far north are you?

[Cab]

could anyone give me any info on how to grow french beans as it is the first time i have grown them i want to start them off in the pollytunnel then outdoors. i live in the northeast.

Steve, if you mean the North East of England, you'll be fine with French beans.

There are all sorts of varieties; green, purple podded, yellow podded, red mottled, purple striped (really!). They're all good, blue lake is a good green climbing variety, vigorous and easy.

If you have a lot of space, go for a pyramid of climbers, but if you've got less space pick out some of a dwarf variety. The yields are lower, but you'll still have them coming out of your ears.

Dig in some muck a few weeks before planting out; start them off later in April, and plant them out in May. Further South I'd be more bold, but I've known some nasty cold knocks up there in April and May. Some people insist on root trainers, but you'll get by fine with four inch pots or even the middle bits from kitchen rolls (split 'em down the side as you plant the whole thing).

[Lesley Jay]

Last summer we had an awful lot of rain and some of the dwarf french beans got flattened on the ground. No such trouble with the climbing ones though.

Cab the dwarf Safari Kenyan french bean always gives us a good harvest. The Blue Lake does as well.

[andrewo]

Climbing

I go for climbing french beans, you get more bean to the square foot than dwarf and the taste just as good. The two varieties I grow are Blauhilde and Sultana and I have done them in pots in a greenhouse, on a windowsill in toilet rolls and they have always come true. I have even planted them directly into pot outside in May/June and they have grown! I'm in the North too, will just tell you to make sure all frost is gone before they go out and watch out for high winds!!!

Andrewo

[Cab]

I grew a yellow dwarf variety last year... For the life of me I can't remember the name. Had 15 plants, and more than enough French beans for the two of us, although of course we also had runner beans coming out of our ears. Still eating both from the freezer.

This year I've got a climber and also three dwarf varieties. I'll have a look to see which ones later.

[Nicos]

We plant dwarf french beans straight into the soil in May and cover them in fleece. we've given up growing them indoors 1st as we only have limited space and there seems to be very little difference when it comes to cropping. Golddukat and delinel are our choice and both are sweet and stringless and good croppers. Nice to have a green and yellow variety too.

[Lesley Jay]

I can't plant beans and peas in the ground because they go missing.

[Nicos]

Oh no....not the phantom legume thief??

[stevep]

i live in newcastle

[stevep]

thanx lesley

[stevep]

thanx for your advice everyone carnt wait to get started