French bean
Provide the climbing support (canes, netting or a wigwam) at planting time, not later — disturbing roots to add support after the event checks growth badly.
Care
Sheltered from strong wind, especially climbing types on supports.
Especially important once flowering and podding — drying out at this stage causes flowers to drop without setting pods.
Fertile, moisture-retentive soil, enriched with organic matter.
Not applicable in the usual sense; pinch out the growing tip of climbing types once they reach the top of their support.
Beans fix their own nitrogen, so a nitrogen feed is wasted and counterproductive — it gives leaf instead of pods. Prepare the trench with compost before sowing and then leave them alone; water at flowering matters far more than feeding.
From seed sown in pots under cover in late spring or direct once the soil is warm. Saved seed from open-pollinated varieties comes true and keeps for years, which makes beans one of the few crops genuinely worth saving seed from.
Month by month
Months change with the climate: in southern Italy tomatoes go out two months earlier than in England.
- MayPlant out or sow direct only once all frost risk has passed. how ›
- JulyWater consistently as flowering begins — the single biggest factor in a good pod set. how ›
- AugustPick pods regularly while young and tender, which keeps plants cropping for longer.
Months based on climate: UK. Your choice stays on this device.
- AprilPlant out or sow direct only once all frost risk has passed. how ›
- JulyWater consistently as flowering begins — the single biggest factor in a good pod set. how ›
- AugustPick pods regularly while young and tender, which keeps plants cropping for longer.
Months based on climate: Northern Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
- AprilPlant out or sow direct only once all frost risk has passed. how ›
- JulyWater consistently as flowering begins — the single biggest factor in a good pod set. how ›
- AugustPick pods regularly while young and tender, which keeps plants cropping for longer.
Months based on climate: Central Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
- MarchPlant out or sow direct only once all frost risk has passed. how ›
- JulyWater consistently as flowering begins — the single biggest factor in a good pod set. how ›
- AugustPick pods regularly while young and tender, which keeps plants cropping for longer.
Months based on climate: Southern Italy and islands. Your choice stays on this device.
Common problems
How to spot it. Dense clusters on growing tips, especially of runner beans.
What to do. Pinch out affected tips, encourage predators.
How to spot it. Usually from dry soil at flowering.
What to do. Water more consistently.
How to spot it. On young seedlings.
What to do. Use barriers or organic control methods.
Questions
French bean: is it hardy?
H2: Tender. It survives down to 1 °C.
Can it grow in a pot?
Dwarf/bush types suit large containers well; climbing types need a tall, secure support.
French bean: when do you prune it?
Not applicable in the usual sense; pinch out the growing tip of climbing types once they reach the top of their support.
French bean: when does it flower?
In the climate of UK it flowers in June–August.
When do you feed it?
Beans fix their own nitrogen, so a nitrogen feed is wasted and counterproductive — it gives leaf instead of pods. Prepare the trench with compost before sowing and then leave them alone; water at flowering matters far more than feeding.