Has anyone found a Dwarf or climbing French Bean that is similar in taste/texture to a stringless runner bean? I have grown them for years in Uk without problems. I had heard they don't grow well here (I'm W of Toulouse) but tried anyway.
There seem to be hundreds of varieties of beans to choose from in France. This year I grew Blue Lake, Ferari and Masterpeice without problems but none were anything like runners.
My runners (Lady Di, Mergoles, White Embargo) failed to set well despite being planted in compost trenches, watering & sweet peas grown alongside. I didn't see may bees either so guess that pollination was a problem too!
Try a type called Painted Lady, sets orange/red flowers and is also called Spanish beans for some reason.
I bought some last year to grow as an ornamental but had loads and loads of beans from them.
Thankyou Tony
I have added some to my seed order. I will let you know how I get on!
B
Andy, I did mist the flowers but it didn't make much difference. The only one that was any good was a 'wild' Mergoles growing through a tomato on the ground, I'll use up the old seed as 'pinched out' dwarfs and see if that helps!
I shall also order some Neckarkonigin from the Graines & Baumaux catalogue which has just arrived, the do look good, thanks for the tip Meg.
the first year i moved to france got her the end of june did not plant my runners until early july (type lady di),had a wonderful crop the next year planted then the normal time in may hardly a bean, now i always plant them end of june early july the same for my swedes and get a great crop, just try saving some to plant later and compare the results.
clive
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