French Beans

[Macca]

Anybody growing French Beans, this is my first attempt and they aren't even flowering yet. Am i getting alittle ahead of myself or should i be harvesting already?

[Macca]

[Moggle]

When did you sow em Macca? And what variety?

[wardy]

You can grow these til first frosts.  I have sowed mine since June when my first sowed plants got killed stone dead by frosts on 4-6th June.  My second sowings are just starting to produce reasonably sized beans  :)

I think I'm growing some dwarf ones next year as well as the climbing ones as my lotty neighbour has been growing some yellow ones and they are producing masses, and have been for weeks, and they are delicious cooked or not  :)

[manuel]

My French beans also got hit hard by frost at the start of June, was a bit too keen planting out. But they have recvered and are finally producing, persevere, Im sure yours will get there in the end!

[Macca]

i tried some before the last frosts and they were stunted so tried again after May time i suppose, not sure of the variety but i know they are french and yellow

[Mrs Ava]

My runners are a failure, but fortunately we prefer French, and they have been a huge success.  Have been picking now since June, and have just sown yet another batch.  I sow about 20 plants at a time, every few weeks, wherever a patch becomes vacant, then I can keep on picking.  just finished dwarf purple queen, yellow wax are going like mad and pongo is just starting to form beans.

[Moggle]

I think Dwarf french beans start producing in about 12 weeks, some I sowed at the end of June are just looking like they're going to flower.

The climbing variety seem to take a little bit longer to flower, but that's just my personal experience, and I'm far from an expert!  :)

Perhaps you could try pinching out the tops of a few of em (if they're climbing) and see what happens? Again I stress that I'm NOT an expert  :)

[Georgie]

My dwarf French have also been cropping for weeks.  Can anyone remember where the advice on freezing them was posted?  I'm getting a bit sick of them now, truth be told.  ::)

G xx

[undercarriage plan]

Hey G!! There was differing advice, but I think the consensus was  to blanch them in boiling water, then stick in cold water to stop them cooking any further, drain and freeze.  If I've got this wrong I'll get nil points for paying attention in class!! Good luck.  Lottie

[BAGGY]

I just bung em in as is.  You can then snap them when they are frozen if you are not eating then whole

[Robert_Brenchley]

My climbing Frenchies are cropping away merrily.So far we've ben eating them as they've been ready, but the rate the plants are growing we'll soon be overwhelmed with beans for the freezer.

[wardy]

Robert    Glad to hear you're frenchies have been a success.  Swings and roundabouts eh  :)

[Georgie]

Hi Lottie.  That was my instinct so thanks.   :)

You freeze yours fresh Baggy?  Hmmm...that sounds easier...;)

G xx

[powerspade]

I have grow french dwarf beans for well over 30 years and I always  plant seed the last week of may, I have been picking for 3 weeks. I found Canadian Wonder the best variety. Sometime the weather affects them and havest is late> my advice to you is dont worry they`ll crop soon

[wardy]

Noted - Canadian Wonder.  Never heard of that one.  Ta  :)

[tim]

Just to put my spade, or oar, in -

1. Am I the only one to advocate Hunter type beans? Self-fertile (so can be grown indoors), sparse foliage, sweeter & more delicate than your ordinary French.
2. Agree with freezing French whole - they look nicer & don't dry out so easily.
3. Blanching? Often discussed &, for early use, no need. But if you do, then do it properly. I much prefer steaming. More accurate, more immediate & less leaching. Lots of guides but this is fairly clear? http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FY719 .

[westsussexlottie]

By indoors Tim - do you mean in a greenhouse? Or could these be grown in the kitchen????
I have never seen these advertised, where do you get the seed from?

[tim]

Kitchen? Sadly. they grow to 8'!!

Most people supply - Dobies, Marshalls, Organic etc. Some are called Algarve.

See my blog.

[micsmum]

I love the Hunter climbing beans too :P
Helen

[westsussexlottie]

Only wish I could grow these - need to get a greenhouse first!