[Jake]

I assume my French Beans are reaching the end of their operational life span. They've gone quite stringy.

Is there anything I can do to make them less stringy because there are still quite a few left and I prefer them picked fresh to frozen(don't we all).

[Oliver]

I assume my French Beans are reaching the end of their operational life span. They've gone quite stringy.

Nothing really. They are just passed it. French beans seem to 'go over' before runners. So, cut them off at ground level - laving the roots in the ground - nitrogen you see! and put the resulting stuff on the compost heap. Keep any pods that have gone brown to ripen, then eat the beans either as haricots, or save the seed for next year.