Sowing seeds early indoors gives a faster and more reliable germination rate. Plant outdoors only after the last frosts, May onwards Sowing: Sow indoors late April and May, outdoors in late May to July.Įven when temperatures are not below freezing, cold air can damage bean plants, so don't plant too early.
These will twine together as they climb, attracting pollinating insects to the beans, and providing flowers to pick at the same time as the crop Add to the ornamental appeal of wigwams by planting a few fragrant sweetpeas alongside them. Either make a wigwam with canes, lashed together with string at the top, or create a parallel row of canes, which have their tops tightly secured to a horizontal cane. If you wish to train the plant vertically, create a support before planting. Fill with a mixture of equal parts loam-based compost and loam-free compost. Choose pots at least 45cm (18in) in diameter and make sure there are plenty of drainage holes. Prepare the soil for planting by digging over and adding plenty of organic material, this will help to improve the soil's moisture-retaining ability and fertility.īeans can also be grown in pots. If the pods are left to mature on the plant they can be dried and shelled as haricot beans for winter use.īeans prefer to grow in moist, fertile soil in a sunny, sheltered spot away from strong winds. To enjoy at their best, pick when young and tender, they require only a brief cooking time and are best steamed and served whole. The beans are flavoursome and versatile in cookery and freeze very well. The plants need no thinning, transplanting or training as other vegetables do and like their climbing cousins, they are also self fertile and ideal for growing under cover early or late in the season. The succulent fleshy pods bursting with flavour turn bright green with cooked, they are best steamed to retain colour.ĭwarf French beans are one of the most popular garden vegetables, very easy to grow, they give superb yields for a small amount of space, outlay and effort, and are very quick to give results. you can usually be eating beans 12 weeks after sowing the seeds. For a regular and steady supply, sow a few seeds every couple of weeks, from April to July. This wonderful heirloom variety has tan coloured seeds which can also be used as a dry bean in soups and stews. The colourful pods and pretty bicolour, pink and white flowers make French Bean ‘Red Swan’ very ornamental and a good choice for large pots and containers. A bush or dwarf cultivar, the plants will grow to around 50cm (20in) tall. A cross between a purple snap bean and pinto bean, the vigorous plants produce high yields of Romano-type, flattened pods that are meaty and flavourful. My favorite use for purple-podded Beans is to pick them while slim and tender, along with green and yellow ones, and arrange all three on a platter with a hummus dip.French Bean 'Red Swan' is an heirloom stringless bean with burgundy red pods. Sow Bush Beans every 10 to 15 days until 2 months before the first frost date in the fall for continuous yields.Ī mainstay of the kitchen garden, homegrown Beans outshine those that are store-bought in their delicious, just-picked flavor, crisp-tender texture and rich vitamin content. Harvest when the Beans are young, slim and on the small side for the best eating! It is vital to keep Beans picked regularly since seed formation slows and eventually halts production. Water as needed by soaking the soil around the Beans and fertilize with kelp or fish emulsion as needed.įor Pole Beans, provide support with rough poles, teepees, netting or a trellis. After emergence, and throughout the season, avoid watering the foliage.
After planting, do not water until the sprouts emerge, unless it is very hot and dry. Cool, wet weather may necessitate a second planting: bean seeds rot in cold, damp soil. Amend the soil as needed with organic fertilizer, compost and/or well-aged manure. Plant Beans when the soil has warmed to 60☏ and all danger of frost has passed.
Red swan bean free#
If you dig in well-rotted manure at the time of planting, your bean plants will grow better, be more free from disease and give you a better yield.īeans love sun and well-draining, fertile soil. Just because legumes are known to improve the soil in which they grow, it does not mean that they needn't be planted in good soil themselves.
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