Anyone got any advice for me on how to grow them, varieties etc?
I'm struggling to find anything on the web.
i will be growing canadian wonder, a french dwarf which can be eaten as the fresh/tender pods, or left to ripen to dark red beans suitable for use as kidney beans.
may not be exactly what you are looking for, but i will give those a try.
i too am growing some beans for drying :)
Ahem, please excuse my ignorance :-[
As I've said before, bit green behind the ears when it comes to veggies. :)
ok, what do you want to know?
from the organic catalogue
French Beans:
Raise in pots under glass in April and transplant, or sow in the open from May to July when the soil and weather is warm. Sow 5cm deep, 5-8cm apart in 45cm rows.
Start picking when beans are relatively young. More tolerant of hot, dry conditions than runner beans.
Extend the season by growing in cloches, greenhouse or polytunnel. Average height 30-60cm. Also good in containers.
from kingsseeds:
WHEN TO SOW
April to June
WHERE TO SOW
Early sowings in glasshouse or cold frame in individual pots. Direct sowings in growing site, 2 seed 6cm deep every 20cm in rows 60cm apart.
WHAT TO DO NEXT
Glasshouse seedlings should be gradually hardened off before planting outside in late May to the spacings above. Direct sowings should be thinned to single seedlings as soon as large enough to handle. Water regularly
MATURITY
July onwards
HANDY TIP
In the early stages of growth the plants need protection from slugs and regular weedings.
i suggest you check out www.kingsseeds.com and/or organic catalogue (http://www.organiccatalog.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_22_44_69&products_id=129)
hth
svea
I love beans: 3 crops in one (pods, fresh beans, dried beans); hardly take up any space for their yield; they look pretty and they feed the soil too!
I may be wrong but I think kidney beans are simply brown climbing french beans...
I grew borlotti (beautiful climbing beans) and cannelini beans (dwarf beans) successfully last year and I'm trying about a dozen more drying beans this year (mainly from HDRA).
If you want more info try here: http://www.veganorganic.net/info2.html
Vegans know there beans!