French beans, also known as common beans, are a type of legume that is popular in many parts of the world

French beans are a great addition to any garden. Not only do they look beautiful and add color, but they’re also a delicious vegetable that can be enjoyed fresh or cooked – a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes, and a good source of nutrients. With the right care and attention, you’ll have a bumper crop of French beans in no time at all! Let’s take a look at how to grow French beans.

Choose the Right Location

If you’ve got plenty of water, it is always possible to have good supply of French Beans for the kitchen from the spring until the plants are cut down by the early Winter frosts. 

The best spot for your French beans is somewhere sunny and sheltered from strong winds. If you’re growing them in containers, make sure to choose a pot that is large enough to accommodate their roots. You’ll need to make sure the soil is well-drained too, as French beans don’t like waterlogged soils.

French Bean Varieties

French beans are available as dwarf that are suitable for growing in pots, or as climbers that will crop heavily even during hot weather, unlike runner beans. Some great varieties climbing and dwarf varieties:

Climbing French Bean varieties:

• Cobra climbing bean – vigorous climbing with plump bean pods
• Climbing French Bean Blauhilde – a reliable cropper

Dwarf French Bean varieties:

• Borlotto Firetongue – stunning red and white pods
• Dwarf French Bean Tendergreen – all about the flavor
• Dwarf French bean Purple Queen – abundant harvests of eye-catching purple pods

Planting French beans

The French bean plant is easy to grow and relatively trouble free, requiring little attention other than watering during dry periods. Once planted, the seed will germinate within a few days and should be started indoors 4-6 weeks prior to the desired planting season.

The best way to do this is by digging over the area thoroughly, getting rid of any weeds or other debris that might be present.

Prepare The Soil

The ground must be properly prepared by trenching thoroughly, and a good dressing of lime added. All leguminous plants require lime, and only yield their best when this constituent is present in the soil. The lime should be applied at least a month before sowing the seed, and should be spread in little heaps on the ground and allowed to slake thoroughly. About a fortnight before planting, fork the lime lightly into the soil and add a good dressing of well-rotted stable manure. The ground needs to be thoroughly broken up, and the manure worked well down, not left within six inches of the surface.

This makes the roots go down in search of food, enables them to draw on the moisture from the lower layers of soil, and helps them to become thoroughly established.

You should also add some organic matter into the soil – this will help improve its structure and make it easier for your plants to absorb nutrients as they grow.

French Beans, when growing, can absorb large quantities of water, but as stagnant water in the soil will kill the plants, good drainage is really important.

Plant Your Seeds

The most economical way to grow French beans is to make successional plantings, beginning about the first week in September, and making a sowing every three weeks right up till the end of Summer.

Earlier sowings may be made, but it must always be remembered that there is a possibility of the young plants being cut down by frosts, or of a cold spell coming in and retarding germination, with the result that the moisture present in the soil in the early Spring is liable to rot the seed.

Once your soil is prepared, you can start planting your seeds. You can plant them directly into the ground or into individual pots if you prefer – just make sure that each seed has enough room to grow without overcrowding its neighbours. Once they have been planted, cover them with a thin layer of soil and keep them moist until they germinate. This usually takes around two weeks but can sometimes take longer depending on the weather conditions.

Sow the seed of the Dwarf varieties, such as Perfect Bush, Magnum Bonum, or Canadian Wonder, in drills two feet apart, allowing four inches between the seeds. The Beans can be sown from 1 inches to 2 inches deep.

The Climbing varieties, however, such as Epicure Runner, require 4 feet between the rows, and at least 6 inches between the plants in the rows. Do not plant too close, as it reduces the quantity and quality of the Beans.

The ground must be well worked whilst the plants are growing so as to keep down the weeds, and a mulching of well-rotted stable manure is necessary in dry weather.

Sow Runner Beans near a fence or building, and train the plants on strings or a trellis, otherwise sticks about 6 feet in length should be stuck in the rows, one to each plant, to support them. When they have reached the top their points may be pinched off or kept pinched back about a foot so that the stems may stand without support. Your beans take just 12 weeks to reach maturity.

Harvesting Your Beans

Pick the Beans as they mature and do not allow the plant to go to seed, for this reduces the bearing period, the plants dying immediately after seeding. By giving our advice careful attention a liberal supply of good, fresh Beans may be had through the Summer and Autumn and the successional sowings keep supplies going until the plants are cut down by frost in the early Winter.

The treatment recommended above applies equally to the Wax Pod or Butter Beans, and some of these delicious Beans should be grown in every garden.

When it comes time to harvest your beans, wait until they reach approximately 5 inches in length – this is when they are at their sweetest and most nutritious! Then simply cut off each pod from its stalk and enjoy! Remember not to let any pods become too large as this will affect their flavour and texture – try harvesting every few days for best results.

Growing French beans doesn’t have to be difficult – with these tips you’ll soon be enjoying an abundance of fresh French beans! Not only are they packed full of flavour but they are also incredibly versatile; perfect for adding colour and texture to summer salads or cooking up into tasty side dishes – whatever takes your fancy! Start preparing now so you can get harvesting soon – happy gardening!