French Beans

[Macca]

I planted some of my french beans under cover this year, plus some later on after the last frost. They have all grown magnificently, but no flowers or beans. Anyone else had problems with french beans this year?

[Macca]

[Robert_Brenchley]

Mine (climbers) are pretty small, doubtless because of the drought, but they're producing without any problems.

[supersprout]

Dwarf beans - fine.
Climbing beans - climbing, flowers but no beenz YET :'(

[sweet-pea]

My climbing french beans are doing fantastic.  It's the first time I've grown them and I'm amazed at how many beans I'm picking.  They've done far better than my runner beans.  Didn't try dwarf french beans this year.

[tricia]

Climbing french beans going great guns, also first, but definitely not the last, time of growing them. Fantastic harvest and so easy to pick.

Tricia

[Mrs Ava]

Dwarfs did great, but I sowed them early and they have now all but finished.

[katynewbie]

 ;D

Dwarf frenchies doing really well, loads already and the ones sowed on 1st July are about to start producing!

Runners slow to start, but just coming up to boiling point now.

;D

[Nobbyman]

Dwarf Beans - brill - just ending cropping now!!

Nobbs xx

[saddad]

My wigwams started off really well but have gone off the boil... think they may ahve had a dose of Urea... still they are alive and there's still hope!
???

[Sprout]

Dwarf beans (The Prince) have done really well. Am now heartily sick of them. Freezer full, friends avoid me, never want to see another bean ever again. Until next year, of course!

[Curryandchips]

 I chose Prince for the same reason, but sadly I have not got enough for a single picking.  :(

[powerspade]

I planted Canadian Wonder, I`m in the process of harvesting and wow what a harvest. I have 4 rows 23 feet long. freezer is now full and I`m giving them away because I cannot keep up in the eating. Last Saturday I pick 6 Asda bags full alone. Mind you I`m not grumbling as my Runner  beans are shocking

[fushiaknits]

hi i'm still anwbie but i,ve goy to sy without beeing too smug mine are great

[daisymay]

my dwarf french beans (Prince also) have been very poor. Not grown well at all, have only had about 10 beans from them, hardly a corp! been very disappointed.

My runners are just starting to produce, is our third attempt at these too... first lot lost to frost, second rotted in the damp, third stunted by he drought/ heat - what a year!

[better days]

Dwarf beans (The Prince) have done really well. Am now heartily sick of them. Freezer full, friends avoid me, never want to see another bean ever again. Until next year, of course!

Hi All
        My first posting. I too have lots of surplus french beans and no more room in the freezer, so I was wondering if the beans could be shelled like peas then left to dry then stored in jars or sealed bags like haricot beans .
They could then be used in stews and casseroles as and when.
Anybody tried this or any help befor they go on the compost heap.
This seems a really good site, glad I found it. (google search)
Regards
            Better Days

[saddad]

Basic answer yes... not familiar with the variety but if not F1 you could save some for next years seed. I would earmark 3/4 plants to keep picked and let the rest dry on the plant... the pods will brown and go brittle. Should it turn wet just pull up the plants and hang up in a shed or out of the rain while the beans dry out!
8)

[Svea]

odd to hear your comments about the dwarfs being finished.

i cropped dwaf french beans between july and well into september last year. looks the same again this year, too

granted, they had a lean two weeks somewhere in the middle but then started flowering again and there was eough to feed us for al this time (we did have glut weeks, too)

@better days
you can also preserve them in glass jars - boil for a short time then pack into glasses and pour the hot liquid on top, then close and make sure the lid 'pops' inwards to make sure a good seal is achieved (or use kilner jars in the prescribed manner)
my grandma always makes beans in glass and they are super yummy regardless, if anything they become slightly sweeter