Dwarf French beans
Compact, productive beans that need little support and suit raised beds.
Dwarf French beans seeds
£2.49 in the shop
Calendar
Sow
May–July after frost
Plant out
Pick slender pods every few days to keep the plants producing.
Harvest
July–October
Conditions
Sun
Full sun, 6–8 hours a day.
Water
Keep consistently moist, especially when flowering and setting pods. Avoid overhead watering to prevent fungal diseases.
Soil
Well-drained, fertile soil, pH 6.0–7.0. Enrich with compost.
Spacing
Dwarf: 15cm between plants, 45cm between rows. Climbing: 15-20cm between plants, 60cm between rows for supports.
Containers
Dwarf varieties are excellent in pots (minimum 25cm diameter). Climbing varieties need large containers (40cm+) and sturdy support.
Indoors
Dwarf varieties can be sown in modules 3-4 weeks before the last frost date, then hardened off and planted out.
Care and harvest
Feeding
Generally not required if soil is fertile. Avoid high nitrogen feeds.
Pruning
Pinch out growing tips of climbing varieties once they reach the top of their support to encourage side shoots and more pods.
Harvesting
Pick slender pods every few days to keep the plants producing.
Storage
Store in the fridge for up to a week. Blanch and freeze for longer storage.
Good companions: Carrots, Cabbage, Corn, Radishes, Marigolds