[Annen]

I've tried growing french beans a few times with little success, but this year I'm growing two kinds, Monte cristo, a climbing bean and purple queen, a dwarf variety.  I must say I'm dead impressed with the purple queen, I've only got 6 plants but they are really producing well, almost as good as my runners and knocking spots off the climbing french bean.

Does anyone have a good variety of climber for cooler windier parts of the uk?

[mumofstig]

Cosse violet purple climbers do well here in a windy spot (which Cobra green Fench beans don't like)

[pigguns]

Cosse violet purple climbers do well here in a windy spot (which Cobra green Fench beans don't like)

These have been (bean!) good and stay on the vine well if you can't pick them often, quite slow to get going but I've had loads now from 12 plants.  Still producing, go a bit grey when cooked but taste ok.

[devonbarmygardener]

I've grown 'Carminat' climbing French beans this year and they have bean truly amazing!!
Really prolific - I must have picked 10kgs by now. Even when they get a bit big and overgrown on the plant, they don't get stringy or tough at all.

They don't stay purple on cooking - even with lemon juice in the water, or light steaming, but they are delicious

I'm definitely growing them again next year

[fatbelly]

On my Plot Cobra do great, year after year I get a 1st class crop.

But others on here have less success with them. I think its like Spuds, what does well for one plotter doesn't do well for others. For example I cant grow Maris Piper spuds for love nor money on my plot.

[mumofstig]

Is your site cool and windy, fatbelly?
It is here, and I always assumed that was why Cobra didn't grow on my plot, rather than soil conditions 

[fatbelly]

Is your site cool and windy, fatbelly?
It is here, and I always assumed that was why Cobra didn't grow on my plot, rather than soil conditions 

Hi my plot is quite exposed & as regards being cool I am 200 miles North of yourself so I would assume my average temp is lower than yours.

[mumofstig]

That's weird then 

[Mrs Bee]

Fassold have done us proud this year and last. Very early cropper.

[Mr Dog]

Is your site cool and windy, fatbelly?
It is here, and I always assumed that was why Cobra didn't grow on my plot, rather than soil conditions 

Hi my plot is quite exposed & as regards being cool I am 200 miles North of yourself so I would assume my average temp is lower than yours.

Same for me. Although only my 1st year of growing on the plot the cobras (1st time I've grown them) have been brilliant whereas the CVs (grown for a few years at home and performed really well) have been very poor.

[ryetek]

Is your site cool and windy, fatbelly?
It is here, and I always assumed that was why Cobra didn't grow on my plot, rather than soil conditions 

Hi my plot is quite exposed & as regards being cool I am 200 miles North of yourself so I would assume my average temp is lower than yours.

Same for me. Although only my 1st year of growing on the plot the cobras (1st time I've grown them) have been brilliant whereas the CVs (grown for a few years at home and performed really well) have been very poor.

Same for me too. 2nd year growing Cobras with a good result for both years. Furthermore our allotment site is fairly exposed to the wind also 

[Snoop]

Is there a significant difference between Delinel and Cobra?

[Muls]

Cobra's do brilliantly down here, my plot is on the side of cliff with a moor behind, very exposed but warm!

[Auntiemogs]

Cosse for me too.  I've found they do take a bit longer to get going, but they crop really well, and even the big ones are not stringy. 

[Snoop]

Cobra's do brilliantly down here, my plot is on the side of cliff with a moor behind, very exposed but warm!

Thanks Muls.