How to plant French beans

French beans are one of the easiest vegetables to grow from seed and produce large yields in a small area. Whether you choose climbing varieties to add direct interest to cottage gardens or small container varieties, these ornamental vegetables are a versatile choice. Here, experienced budget farmer Lee Senior shares his practical tips for successfully growing French beans.

Do you want to try it? Browse our full range of French bean seeds.

How to choose the best French bean varieties to grow

There are two different types of French beans; small French beans and French climbing beans. Both types come in many colors including, green, yellow and purple. Climbing French beans are a bit like runner beans in their habit, although they are less vigorous. In good growing conditions they reach a height of about 6ft (180cm), making them ideal for space-saving areas such as walls, trellises and arbors. Small French beans, on the other hand, are very different in habits. They are slow growing, reaching a height of around 30cm making them a good choice for containers and even window boxes. Here are some of my favorites:

• Try the purple-podded, stringy Dwarf French Bean ‘Purple Queen’ for something reliable and delicious. Beans turn green when boiled, but retain some color when heated.
• Another variety I rate highly is Dwarf French Bean ‘Compass’. These very fine beans are often part of the ‘best of’ list in supermarkets. The taste is excellent and if you could grow one dwarf variety, this would be it!
• Climbing French Bean ‘Blue Lake’ is a traditional, tasty, reliable plant. Its wireless pods are also convenient for drying and winter use. Despite its name it is actually a white seeded bean and a favorite of many allotment owners.
• Climbing French Bean ‘Cobra’ with green pods is a sweet, heavy variety that also has a long growing season.
• For something a little different, the yellow-podded Climbing French Bean ‘Sunshine’ fits the bill perfectly. This round seed variety looks good, tastes great and its unique golden pods will be a talking point!

How to sow French bean seeds

French bean seeds take an average of 10-14 days to germinate, and require a temperature of 15- 20C (60-68F). I do my first sowing of the year at the end of March in an unheated greenhouse, or a heated propagator if the weather is unseasonably cold. I have never sown French bean seeds before, as there is nothing to gain unless you grow them to maturity in a polytunnel. You need to be able to ensure frost-free conditions outside and under the glass, as beans are susceptible to cold.

• In my greenhouse, I sow the seeds in multi-compost pots 5cm (2 inches) deep.
• Alternatively, deep seed trays or root trainers are also fine.
• Give the compost a good watering but keep it slightly moist until growth appears.
• No special conditions are required, but bean seeds struggle to germinate at temperatures below 10C (50F).
• I made another greenhouse for sowing at the end of April. After that, direct seeding outdoors is the way to go.
• As long as the soil is warm enough, sow in succession outdoors in growing areas from mid-May to mid-July. Place cane next to each seed in the climbers. Place the seeds 20cm apart and you won’t need to plant them.

When and where to plant French beans

For climbing French beans, always try to choose a place with no wind where possible. This reduces the risk of plants being blown over by the wind. Since the small French beans grow very close to the ground, they are not prone to wind damage.

Both species require a sunny location in well-drained soil that has been composted from the previous crop. Alternatively, dig leaf mold or well-rotted garden compost into the soil to help retain moisture.

Planting beans outside in their growing areas should only be done when all danger of frost has passed. For most of the UK, this is around the end of May. Stabilization is important for any plants grown under cover to reduce the shock of temperature drop brought on by outdoor conditions. Plants under cold soil and cold temperatures will be difficult to establish and are at risk of failure.

Space your plants 20cm (8inch) apart and allow 60cm (2ft) between rows. They can be planted in two rows if needed. Climbing species can be planted as a wigwam, or trellis or even single poles if space is tight. I often use small type to seamlessly fill in any gaps left in my application, and they have always done well.

How to care for French beans

French beans are easy to grow and don’t hurt too much. They do not succumb to many insects, although slugs will not be reduced, especially if the soil is wet during planting. Aphids can attack if the plant is under stress but, in my experience, this is very rare.

French beans need warm temperatures to grow fully. For this reason they are a perfect weather, mid-summer crop. They can take a while to get established after planting in their final locations, especially if soil and air temperatures are on the cold side. Use wool and cloches where needed. Beans will sit and shrivel if the soil is too cold.

Both climbing and dwarf French beans are fast growers on warm summer days if they are happy where they are growing. The average time from sowing seeds to planting is an impressive 9-12 weeks, depending on the variety. Water well in hot dry weather, to help flower arrangement and improve crop yield.

How to harvest and store French beans

French beans are crops that grow reliably from mid-July to early October. Regular picking will ensure a long harvest time for climbing and small varieties. Both have delicious pods that are soft and delicious to eat, and only take a few minutes to cook.

Pods are easily removed from the plant using the finger and thumb pinch technique, or can be cut with secateurs or scissors. There is no need to wrap them if they are eaten whole, but they can be topped and tailed and cut into sections as needed. Harvested beans will last for several days in the refrigerator if stored in a polythene bag. French beans should never be eaten raw. If you have a glut, they can be baked and frozen for use during the dark months.

Alternatively, some varieties provide a good crop of beans that can be dried (to make haricot beans) for use in stews, soups or casseroles in the winter. Allow the pods to brown and ripen on the plant before harvesting the beans. Then leave the beans to dry thoroughly before storing them in a cool, dark, dry place. If you want to grow beans for drying, the climbing French Bean ‘Blue Lake’ is a good choice, along with the red French Bean ‘Borlotto Firetongue’. These red speckled beans look amazing and kids will love them.

We hope we’ve inspired you to try growing your own French beans from seed. Find out more of Lee’s practical, practical, DIY gardening tips monthly assignment pages.

Lead image: Growing French Bean ‘Cobra’ seed from Suttons