French Beans

Home |

Children > For families > Grow it! > French Beans

Featured book

Grow Your Own for kids

This RHS book is packed with quick and easy activities for children to do in the garden

Growing dwarf French beans is easy and fun

French beans are delicious as vegetables or used in salads and are easy to grow. There are two types of French beans ‘climbing’ (pole beans) and ‘bush’ beans. Sow the dwarf bush varieties in July.

Season: Summer
Name: Phaseolus vulgaris
Common Name: French Beans
Description: French beans are delicious as vegetables or used in salads and are easy to grow. There are two types of French beans ‘climbing’ (pole beans) and ‘bush’ beans. Sow the dwarf bush varieties in July.
Interesting facts: Phaseolus is from Greek name for a kind of bean ‘phaselos’, and vulgaris is Latin for common

Growing tips

French beans are sensitive to frost and cannot be grown outside until late May – June. Beans prefer light, fertile, well drained soils. You can add organic matter, such as compost, to improve soil structure before sowing.

Varieties to try

Dwarf Bush: ‘The Prince’, ‘Purple Teepee’, ‘Cropper Teepee’ ‘Mont D’or’, ‘Purple Queen’

You will need

Gardening gloves
Packet of French bean seeds
Label and pencil
Hand trowel
Rake

What to do

If the soil is dry, trickle water along the bottom of the drill before sowing the seeds.
Sow seeds 5cm (2in) deep, 10cm (4in) apart, in rows 30- 45cm apart (12- 18in).
Cover with fleece to exclude the bean seed fly from your crop and to protect from cold weather.

Maintenance

The bush types may not need supporting, but short twigs can be used to help keep the beans off the soil.
Keep well watered, especially during periods of prolonged dry weather.