This year I sowed (indoors, in modules) a tray of my old favourite early BB, "The Sutton" and a week later a newer variety "Express".... well despite the week shorter growing time, the Express are covered in pods already and will be picking very soon.... the Sutton are only just showing pods (both are ahead of all the taller BB's that got sown at roughly the same time) so I'm swapping allegiance Express for the near future... THey've ahd sensible ahndling, weren't too potbound when planted out and I'm pretty certain that their growing conditions have been the same since they hatched.....