[Willow_Warren]

When sitting down to dinner at my Mother's yesterday she serverd up little beans - a bit like these (photo courtsey of JS).

I realised that I wasn't growing anything like this and qutie fancy doing so - we go onto a bit of a discussion as to how they grow, how tall, support needed etc... to which I hadn't reall a clue...

Anyhow, after a bit of a poor germination of sunflowers (second year running - different seeds!) and snails/slugs eating some of my calabrese seedlings in the cold frame, I've about a 4m row spare   so oppertunity for some beans?

I have found these ones on the T&M website:
http://www.thompson-morgan.com/vegetables/vegetable-seeds/pea-and-bean-seeds/dwarf-bean-speedy/332TM
Would they be ok?  It says they can be sown into July so I should have time - yes? Do they need and special care requirements?  They will I presume need netting from pigeons?

Are there any other varieties people can reccomend?  I might look somewhere other than T&M as when you take into account the P&P it's a bit pricey (but I'm at work at most websites don't work too well to look them up!).  Want to get them ordered this week so they can get sown at the weekend.

Also can they be frozen? 

Thanks

Hannah

[Auntiemogs]

Hi Willow,  they have a few french dwarf beans on Premier Seeds for 99p + 55p postage.  I've always found germination rates from their seed to be very good and they arrive quite quickly.

I'll post their ebay link, although I think they sell on Amazon too...

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Premier-Seeds-Direct/Beans-/_i.html?_fsub=9717829&_sid=79364908&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322

Mags 

[GrannieAnnie]

Hey Auntiemogs, you beat me to it!      

I get mine from Premier too.  Good germination, good and quick service and cheap postage!

There are also all these on Ebay, some with free p&p.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0&_nkw=dwarf+bean+seeds&_sacat=0&_from=R40

I'm growing green ones this year, but a couple of years ago I grew the purple ones.  They are a little longer than some of the green dwarf beans, but they were very prolific and when steamed, keep their purpley colour.

My OH isn't keen on runner beans frozen, but the dwarfs he will eat in stews and things in the winter.

[Willow_Warren]

Thanks for the links, I'll have a look a them this evening (ebay is banned at work!).

Hannah

[Auntiemogs]

I'm going to resist Grannie (for now, anyway)  !

Think I finished the last of mine from the freezer a few days ago.   

[GrannieAnnie]

I've still got loads of runner beans chopped ready for stews in the freezer.  We haven't eaten as many stews this past winter because of trying to lose the weight, and Brian won't eat them as a 'normal' veg once frozen!

[Willow_Warren]

My other half is still happily munching his way through last years runner beans!  The peas sandly ran out quite some time ago!  I'm hoping these little beans will be quite nice in minestrone soup and the like!?

Let the planting commence 

Hannah

[GrannieAnnie]

Oh yes, little bits of little beans in minestrone etc. perfect! 

[mumofstig]

I wasn't impressed with Speedy beans - so deffo try another variety/supplier 

[grendel]

yes dwarf french beans, we have green yellow and dark 'cherokee trail of tears ones) the green and yellow are dwarf and self supporting, the cherokee ones I just put hoops a couple of foot high and they run along the top of the hoops, all very tasty, dont forget to keep a few of the beans for next years crop.
Grendel

[Willow_Warren]

I wasn't impressed with Speedy beans - so deffo try another variety/supplier 

Thanks for that...

Well looking on eBay at premier seeds I was going to order slenderette, cheaper too...

Hannah 

[maxibo]

We're growing climbing beans this year.  We got our plot last year and didn't get our act together in time.  However, every year before that I have grown dwarf beans as there is just the three of us (and my son wouldn't knowingly eat a bean, though he has tried!) so just two really, I suppose.  I cheated the first year and bought a pot with I think three 'patio' dwarf french beans plants in.  Seriously, they were so prolific I couldn't keep up.  I gave my Dad a enough for a meal for two once a week and we never had to buy a bean all season.  Saved a fortune!  I grew them in a big pot so they were up off the ground and didn't suffer much if any slug damage.  Delish in soups, casseroles, braised in a little stock with other greens, chopped in frittata...... 

[Auntiemogs]

Thanks for that...
Well looking on eBay at premier seeds I was going to order slenderette, cheaper too...
Hannah 

They do look nice don't they?  I'm trying Slenderette and Purple Queen this year (in fact they arrived today). 

[shokkyy]

My favourites are climbers too, Cosse Violette and Blauhilde. Even in last year's horrible weather they gave me a huge crop, only just finished eating the ones in the freezer and still have lots of jars of them dried.

[Auntiemogs]

My favourites are climbers too, Cosse Violette and Blauhilde. Even in last year's horrible weather they gave me a huge crop, only just finished eating the ones in the freezer and still have lots of jars of them dried.

Yes, Cosse Violette for me too.  I did also grow Blue Lake last year, which were nice, but not as prolific or tasty.