Growing French Beans

French Beans
French Beans are also known by a variety of names such as kidney beans, flageolets and haricot beans - these names refer to the beans when left to mature fully.

FRENCH BEAN
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Latin Name
Phaseolus coccineus

Type
Perennial, but grown in UK as half-hardy annual.

Site and Soil
Full sun, sheltered from wind. Well-dug water retaining soil.

Plant to Harvest Time
12 weeks

How Many?
3kg (6.5lb) per metre (yard)

Simple to grow, delicious tasting and very nutritious - a few of the reasons for you to make room for French Beans in your veg plot.

The taste is always better than those bought in the shops, because you can grow varieties not suitable for commercial production. You also choose when to harvest them - just before they are needed for cooking.

In normal circumstances they can be harvested between early July to mid October - if you have cloches, they can be ready to harvest in mid June.

Where To Grow French Beans
French beans prefer a sunny, sheltered site because it gives protection from cold winds which helps at the seedling stage and later on during the pollination phase. If the climbing type is to be grown (as opposed to the dwarf variety), remember that they will need support to 1.8m (6foot) and that they will cast a shadow over any nearby low-growing plants.

Soil Preparation
French Beans prefer a rich soil which has plenty of organic material in it. They have a deep root system, so digging should be to a spade and a half's depth, incorporating compost or other organic material during the process. If possible, prepare the soil a month or so in advance of sowing the seeds, late March is a good time.

When To Sow French Beans
Picture of French Beans French Beans are very frost-tender at the sowing and seedling stage and if unprotected, will in almost all cases damaged by any degree of frost. Where the seedlings have appeared above the soil surface and a late unexpected frost strikes, it is best to remove them and plant more seeds in their place.

The best time to plant French Beans outside is around the last frost, late April (click here if you have not yet used GardenAction to automatically set the weather dates for your area). If poly tunnel or cloche protection can be provided (or if planting in pots indoors), the sowing date can be 4 weeks before the last frost date in your area. Click here to buy a poly-tunnel or cloche online from our recommended suppliers.

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