French Beans

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Sowing                                                
Harvest                                                

 

Standard climbing varieties should be sown 5cm (2") deep, 23cm (9") apart in the row. Usually two rows 45cm (18") apart are grown together using bamboo canes sloping inwards and tied to a horizontal bar for support. Dwarf varieties can be sown 15cm (6") apart in rows 60 - 75cm (24 - 30") wide. Both types should not be sown in the open until all danger of frost is passed. Earlier crops can be obtained by sowing seeds in pots in the greenhouse at the end of April or early May and transplanting end of May to first week in June. Dwarf French beans can be sown as late as early July.

Climbing French Beans (height 210cm (7ft) plus unless stated)

BLUE LAKE WHITE SEEDED
Tender, string less pods of medium length. Suitable for dried beans if allowed to ripen.

HUNTER
Superb variety produces large flat pods in abundance. Excellent quality, ideal for the show bench.

COSSE VIOLETTE
Purple podded variety, string less pods which turn green when cooked. Fine flavour.

BARLOTTO LINGUA DI FUOCO 2
Red markings on bright green, flat pods make this a colourful bean to grow. Excellent flavour.

LIMKA
This bean is suitable for both early & late sowings, under cover or in open ground. It produces long broad pods with good flavour

NECKARKONIGIN
Dark green, round pods produced in abundance. Performs well in poorer weather conditions. Resistant to Bean Mosaic Virus.

MARKANT
A high yielding variety, which produces long, oval-round pods of up to 25cm (10”) in length.

NECKARGOLD
This high yielding variety produces long, round, yellow pods of up to 25cm (10”) in length. Resistant to Bean Mosaic Virus.

BLAUHILDE (Purple)
Violet podded form with excellent flavour.

Dwarf French Beans (height 60cm (2ft) unless stated)

TENDERGREEN
String less pencil shaped pods up to 14cm (51/2") long. High quality, excellent for freezing.

TENDERCROP
A very reliable, well established variety which produces high yields. Fleshy, round pods which are virtually stringless, especially when young.

GREEN ARROW
Abundant high quality pods of 15cm (6") are carried on uniform, disease resistant plants.

THE PRINCE
Good early variety producing abundant long fairly flat pods. Excellent flavour. Can be picked over a long period.

CROPPER TEEPEE
High yielding pencil podded cultivar with good flavour. Pods are held well above the foliage facilitating easier harvesting.

SAFARI
Vigorous strong plants with an upright growth habit. This fine Kenyan type has pod carried high on the plant making picking easier. High level of disease resistance. Does not go stringy readily. Splendid taste.

ALLEGRIA
An extra fine bean, which produces high yields even on heavy soils. Pods are approximately 6mm thick and 12cm (41/2”) long and of medium green colour. The upright growth habit makes the pods easy to harvest. They are suitable for fresh or frozen use. Resistant to Common Bean Mosaic Virus, Anthracnose and Halo Blight.

ORINOCO
Particularly suited to heavier soils with high number of pods per plant and subsequent good yields. Straight, golden, round pods of approximately 13cm (5”) in length and 8mm (1/4”) width, are produced. Resistant to Common Bean Mosaic Virus, Anthracnose and Halo Blight.