[Floody]

... which one would it be?

[GrannieAnnie]

I like my little Blue Lake Climber, usually good yield and takes up less space as it grows to up to 6ft.   I save my seeds every year.  Mind you, both french and runners didn't do so well this year, but that could have been the weather.

[surbie100]

Cherokee Trail of Tears - lovely flavour as a French bean, delicious as a dried bean for chillies etc.

[Potty Plotty Lotty]

Cosse Violette.

Prolific, easy to spot when picking and stay tender even when big.

[AnneB]

I am with Surbie and my vote also goes to Cherokee Trail of Tears.  It is so productive and over a long period too.  I usually get enough for both fresh beans and dried for our family of three from 8 plants. 

[Alifink]

I'm with Potty Plotty Lotty with A Cosse Violette, they grow for fun and the purple makes them very easy to see. No matter how large they grow they stay string less and tender.

[Norfolkgrey]

If I could grow one bean I would have a lot of spare growing space 

District Nurse is my fav. it seems to do well early and late in the year, regardless of weather and can be used for young pods or dried beans, and the pods are easy to find. 

[madcat]

Hunter - great flat beans fresh and when you are fed up with them - and you will be given how prolific they are - they make good haricots ...

[Headgardener22]

Why would you only grow one French Bean? You need at least two for a full season.

[mumofstig]

Might only have space for 1 lot of beans 

[Floody]

Why would you only grow one French Bean? You need at least two for a full season.

Sorry Headgardener, I didn't realise there are rules for what you NEED when it comes to growing amounts of French Beans!   

The answer is simple.  I've grown two or three types in the past and it's too much. Me and the missus like French beans but only in moderation, we get sick of the sight of them quite quickly and so do the people to whom we try to give them away.   

[Headgardener22]

The reason for more than one variety was to extend the season. I grow a few plants each of an early dwarf and a later climbing one. I don't use much space.

[Floody]

Yes I realise that.   I don't want to extend the season.  I just want comparatively few french beans that will taste nice.

[Flowertot]

I have grown Climbing Blue Lake for the last few years and always really liked it but I'm interested in the rave reviews Cherokee Trail of Tears always gets on this forum so have ordered it for next year. I'll also try Cosse Violette. So that will give me green and purple, can anyone recommend a yellow climbing bean? My kids love the different colours  .

[New shoot]

I grew one called Italian Gold this year and it was delicious.  They are big flat beans and don't get stringy, even when large.

I also grow climbing Blue Lake and mine are an old version of them, saved by an old lady for years and now by me.  Plus another vote for Cherokee Trail of Tears.  They are very prolific, good to eat fresh and also great as dried beans