Green Blog
12 May 2011
Grow your own food, week 9 - French beans
Ever had a nasty experience with a runner bean? A bit of stringy stuff stuck in your throat? Me too.
That's one of the reasons I prefer to grow French beans, which I'm sowing now.
If you live down south, and are sure that there won't be a late frost or cold snap, you can put them straight in the ground. But I'm starting mine off in pots on the window ledge - just in case.
I'll sow my seeds 5 cm deep in 10 cm pots and plant out when they're about 10 cm tall. Aim for 25 cm between plants.
French beans come as either dwarf varieties or climbers. The former take up less space; the latter will need some kind of structure to cling to - a wigwam of bamboo canes, say.
Good dwarf varieties include Kenyan, or for interesting bean colour try the yellow Rocquencourt or Purple Teepee.
I tend to grow the climbers and have had excellent results with Blue Lake.
Plant more beans than you'll need as they'll take a hit from slugs. And keep well watered once they're in the ground.
Your beans are ready when they can be snapped in half. Be greedy when you harvest. The more beans you pick, the more your plant should produce, right through to September.
Dominic Murphy, Publishing & New Media Team
Dominic Murphy's book 'The Playground Potting' Shed includes an easy guide to growing food throughout the year. To order a signed copy at the special price of £6.99, please visit our Shop
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