French Bean Climbing Blue Lake

French Climbing Beans are a productive, easy-to-grow crop that produce long,
tender beans. They grow tall vines and need support, but in return they provide
much heavier yields from a small space. The beans are usually stringless, smooth
and packed with flavour and they can be picked young for good taste.

Plant indoors or outdoors once the soil has warmed and all risk of frost has passed,
usually late May to June. If planting in your garden choose a sunny, sheltered spot
with fertile, well-drained soil. Enrich the ground with compost or well-rotted manure
before planting.

Provide strong supports such as canes arranged in a wigwam or parallel rows of
canes tied into an A-frame. The beans will naturally twine up the supports as they
grow.

Water regularly, especially in dry spells and when the plants are flowering. Mulching
helps conserve soil moisture. Feed every couple of weeks, once beans start to form.
Pick the beans while young and tender. Regular picking encourages the plants to
keep producing. Avoid letting beans become large and tough, as this reduces further
cropping.

Climbing French beans are ideal for small gardens since they produce vertically, give
long, generous harvests and are excellent for fresh eating, steaming or freezing.