french dwarf beans?

[coxievans]

Please help as i need info on dwarf french beans as i have never used them before, do i need like runner beans a net to let them climb up.or are they self standing please help this one is new to me and the packet does not tell you everything, many thanks coxi evans

[shirlthegirl43]

Hi coxievans. Dwarf french beans grow about 2 foot or so high and are self supporting. Pick the pods regularly and they will keep cropping for a good while.

[Flummery]

They are also sometimes called bush beans - this gives you a clue! I like to grow the french dwarf and climbing beans. I prefer the flavour and texture to runners and the dwarf crop a bit earlier than the climbing. I find that once they are through the ground they are a very easy, fuss-free crop. As Shirl says, pick, pick, pick and you'll have a long season from them.

[ysb33r]

Hi coxievans,

You might also want to have a look at this thread

[nick the grief]

Hi Coxievans,

they are really easy to grow I've got an early sowing anut 8" tall now in pots in the Greenhouse they are about ready to be potted up in their final pots (about 7 or 8").

I grow The Prince and it has a great flavour and being open polenated you can save your own seed each year. I'm toying with a row across the allotment this year but I think that will be too much with Climing French beans as well

[Paulottie]

Hi coxi.
I find it helps to support them by tying off to 2ft canes/or similar as it keeps the beans off the mud and stops them being nibbled. The thing is to drill a hole in a cork or small block of wood and put it on top so as you don't poke your eyes.

[pigletwillie]

I just plant them 8" apart in an 8x 4 raised bed and they self support without problems. Just keep picking them. I let them go at the end for use as haricot beans over the winter, but also plant a second bed about 6 weeks after the first for succession. If you haven't the room for a big bed, a smaller block will support itself just as well.

Not living in Manchester LJ, heavy rainstorms are not so much of an issue for me.

I have some of the Kenya safari on your reccomendation LJ.

[stigoftheplot]

Hi coxi.
The thing is to drill a hole in a cork or small block of wood and put it on top so as you don't poke your eyes.

I've found the easiest way to top canes ( and recycle more) is to use tin cans. I squash the open end by standing on them, leaving 1 side slightly open. This is then slotted over the cane. Provided it's a tight fit it wont come off, has a nice large end to protect eyes, and is easy to remove as required. Fits any size - just squash accordingly.

[nick the grief]

I've found the easiest way to top canes ( and recycle more) is to use tin cans. I squash the open end by standing on them, leaving 1 side slightly open. This is then slotted over the cane. Provided it's a tight fit it wont come off, has a nice large end to protect eyes, and is easy to remove as required. Fits any size - just squash accordingly.

I use smoothy bottles or coke bottles, they rattle in the wind as a bonus to scare the birds

[Frankiebaby]

We had great success growing dwarf french beans last year. I provided a bit of support by loosly tieing them to canes but other than that they were fine. More than fine, so many beans... I tried to freeze them but I didn't like them much from frozen. Someone told me next time I should blanche them with boiling water before putting them in cold water and then in the freezer.

[Two_Sheds]

I never eat any of the veg I've frozen...always too mushy. I now prefer to cook up a big batch of dinner (pasta sauce, chilli, whatever) and freeze the whole meal instead...instant ready meals.
I top my canes with empty Coke bottles - there's always 100s on the paths (but that's the subject of another thread...

[Paulottie]

I only use corks because i like wine!!! but good ideas thanks. I have sometimes used bottles on canes to support netting

[berksmike]

Dwarf French beans are very easy to grow and I've always had decent crops. This year I'm trying Golden Teepee which has beautiful yellow beans.

I support any I grow singly in pots with a small cane but in the border if you plant a few adjacent to each other they tend to support themselves.

[Nicos]

I do not live in Manchester! Cheshire with my very own rain cloud overhead!!

Right next to mine LJ!!!! ( well not at the moment anyway!!! )

[Cutecumber]

funny isn't - I've never been very good at french beans.

The more tricky stuff works better for me - I guess I take more care planning and caring for it when I'm told it's difficult!