Amateur Gardening

Focus on… French beans

PICKED when young and tender, there are few crops finer than homegrown French beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), available in both dwarf and climbing varieties. Given the right conditions and treatment they’ll yield at an astounding rate, and now is a great time to sow them.

Being a tender annual, compost/soil temperatures at sowing are important; at least 10°C (50°F) is needed. For early crops (pods in late June), you could start sowing dwarf varieties in late March under glass, then transplant seedlings into growbags and slide them out in late May. But if soil is light and free-draining, and you live in the south, sow under rigid cloches now; wait until May in the north.

“French beans will yield at an astonishing rate”

Choosing a sunny, sheltered spot is important for these early crops. Come June, we can all sow outside, setting seeds 11/2-2in (4-5cm)

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