The perfect dual-purpose vegetable as it produces an abundant harvest of pencil-thin, stringless green beans with a fine, sweet flavour from early summer, and then the last few pods can be left on the plant to dry for white haricot beans to store. A climbing variety, making a decorative addition to any garden grown up a trellis or wigwam. A heirloom variety dating from 1885.
Growing instructions:
Sow three seeds to a 15cm pot in mid-April and keep well watered and warm until germination. Keep seedlings in a frost-free greenhouse or on a windowsill, potting them on as they grow, and once all threat of frost has passed harden off gradually before planting out. Protect young plants from slugs and support with hazel wigwams or trellis. If you sow a second batch of French beans in July it will provide a continuous harvest well into autumn.
Eventual height:
1.8m
Eventual spread:
0.45m
Soil:
Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
-
Humans/Pets: Raw pods/beans harmful if eaten