French Beans

lolly5648

How do you know when they are ready to pick, mine are a few inches long but very thin?

EmptyPockets

lolly5648 wrote: »

How do you know when they are ready to pick, mine are a few inches long but very thin?

It depends, you can harvest them at different stages, and the beans then have different uses.

We pick them at their early stage, when they are young and still quite thin. Like the size of a pencil. We just trim the ends off and boil for about 8 minutes.

Or, you can pick them later when the beans inside have actually formed. Then, you shell the beans and treat them as Flagolets (green beans). Or, you can dry the beans to use through autumn and winter (Haricots).

wayne1983

Are french bean just like runner beans and green beans?:beer::o

ukbill69

I have a handfull of beans each week off about 8 plants. In ground for about 2 months now, 4th try at getting this right this year. All in full sun all day.

Dustykitten

wayne1983 wrote: »

Are french bean just like runner beans and green beans?:beer::o

No french beans grow on small bush plants about a foot high; runner beans climb up a cane (as do flat beans). All are green

Dustykitten

My french beans have been more successful than in previous years. I'm going to sow a few more directly into the soil to try to prolong their season.

Zazen999

wayne1983 wrote: »

Are french bean just like runner beans and green beans?:beer::o

Dustykitten wrote: »

No french beans grow on small bush plants about a foot high; runner beans climb up a cane (as do flat beans). All are green

French beans can be bush or climbers. Runners are of the same species but are a slightly different type; and can also be bush or climbers. Runners have red flowers [usually] and green pods [usually] although some other colours are available. French beans have a whole plethora of colours of flower, pod and final bean colour inside.

Green beans are french beans picked when young before the beans inside have formed yet. You can get round or flat french beans. French beans can be left on to form haricot beans inside, shelly beans inside or fully dried beans...which can then be eaten or used for the next year's seed.

ukjoel

MY french beans didnt look like doing much but in fairness am picking a good crop twice weekly while the runners next to them flew up the net loads of flowers but no beans at all.

Primrose

French beans (both climbing and dwarf varieties) need good rich soil, and plenty of water and sunshine to thrive. They also sulk if the temperature falls too low. In a good year temperature wise they can produce prolifically. In poor summers they can be rather disappointing. However, climbing French beans are better, in my opinion, to grow than Runner beans as they are self pollinating and don't need bees or othr insects to pollinate them for the beans to set, as is the case with runner beans. In poor summers where insects are short, you will almost always get a better crop of climbing French Beans than you will runner beans. Cobra and Blue Lake are good varieties to grow. If you want a purple bean, try Blauhilde (from Thompson & Morgan).

wayne1983

Im not really sure whens best to pick them, but mine have come on well and there grown in a container. They are about 3 inch long:beer: