[Elaine G]

I put in 8 plants of dwarf french bean Ferrari at the end of May and they have been producing a steady crop all summer. They freeze nicely and seen to taste OK when defrosted, unlike my runner beans which are definately nicer fresh.
So can anyone recommend a nice climbing french bean please, as I have decided to grow half runners and half french next year, some to eat and some to freeze

Thanks
Elaine

[DD.]

Try something like this:

http://www.thompson-morgan.com/seeds1/product/251/1.html

Not only tastes good, but is an attractive looking plant.

PM me your details and I can send you some saved seed in a few weeks. Can't guarantee they won't have crossed with the nearby "White Lady" runners!

http://www.thompson-morgan.com/dispatcher?search=blauhilde

new link added due to website upgrade

[Dirt Diver]

I put in 8 plants of dwarf french bean Ferrari at the end of May and they have been producing a steady crop all summer. They freeze nicely and seen to taste OK when defrosted, unlike my runner beans which are definately nicer fresh.
So can anyone recommend a nice climbing french bean please, as I have decided to grow half runners and half french next year, some to eat and some to freeze

Thanks
Elaine

Elaine - what did you do, I planted a pack of french and only a few can throu and they did not do very well. But the Runners were great. So I must have done something wrong. Help

[Kristen]

We like Limka (and also grow 50:50 French and Runners). Limka is a flat French Bean, so somewhat similar to Runners in that regard. (Ours come from Suttons, dunno if other seed sellers have it or not)

I seem to remember previous "Best French Bean" surveys concluding that Blue Lake was the best. I grew 4 or 5 varieties last year and did a blind tasting for the family and a few friends we had round that day.  Everyone had a preference, none was an outright winner, and the consensus was that "any of them would be fine".

Climbing French beans have a shorter cropping season than Runners (although IME they can start podding a week or two earlier - perhaps because the Runners need insect pollination and some Spring's I suppose the insects are not up to speed ...)

Anyways, I recommend that you plant a bean when you plant-a-plant so that the bean will come on to crop 3 - 4 weeks later.

[Sid]

Climbing French Bean Cobra wounderful flavour picked small or left to grow still still keep flavour, and have had a fabulous crop this year.

Climbing French Beam Neckargold have never grown before,but will from  now on
great cropper and lovely buttery flavour still picking they are a lovely colour yellow which stands out amoungst all the green in the summer.

[Stevens706]

I'm with Sid, try Cobra I also grew Blue Lake as they were free from BBC digit

[mumofstig]

My Cobra did zilch this year........couldn't even get the strength to climb their poles
But those purple beans from DD have been star performers 

[Goosegirl]

I usually grow one French Bean - Cobra - in my greenhouse and has always done really well - goes a bit jungle-like but produces a fine crop. Didn't do runners this year but planted Cobra outside - zilch! Neckargold sound great - where from?

[kermit]

I did cobra and blue lake this year on a munty frame , 50:50.  CobrA were incredibly prolific and tasted great. Pretty disappointed in blue lake - low yield and small shiny beans. I'll do cobra again next year. No doubt.

[Elaine G]

Thanks for your replies everyone.
Looks like I might be trying more than one french bean next year! Cobra sounds good and Neckargold look lovely don't they.

DD I cannot get your link to work so I have no idea what they are! Sorry.

Dirt Diver I didn't do anything special. The ferrari seeds were very slow to germinate, but so were my runners this year. I planted them next to my sweetcorn, so they were sheltered from the wind, at the end of May. They just kept on going.

Elaine

[mumofstig]

I've put DD's link right now 

[Elaine G]

Oh thanks Mum.
May have to try some of those too! 

Elaine

[Sid]

I have some spare seeds if you want to try neckargold.

And Cobra.

[Elaine G]

Thank you very much for all your replies.
Have been away for 2 days on business. Have returned home tonight to find a shiny new T&M catalogue.
So, one packet of Cobra beans, one pachet of Brauhilde, £5 discount voucher, free P&P, total paid 18 pence. Result! 

Elaine

[DD.]

T & M obviously upgraded their site to try & stop you doing that!