[Sue32]

I bought dwarf French beans as plants which don't say how big they grow.  I've also sowed some called Sprite.  The suppliers seem to think we all know what we are doing but I have no idea what size to expect or what support they need.  Can any-one give even a good guess that would help me please

[DD.]

They are usually around 12" high, 18" max..

I grow them like this.


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Double rows, 9" between each plant (star), 18" between the double rows. They've always been self-supporting.

[Salmo]

Sprite start producing beans when they are about a foot high and grow another 6 inches. No support needed. Pick them when they are really small. The harder you pick them the more they produce.

[Aunt Sally]

I grow them like this - just to make weeding more difficult    No help to myself am I 


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[Sue32]

Good news is I can get more in than I thought AND I can use all those canes somewhere else.  many thanks again

[Salmo]

I grow them in a single row about 8 inches apart and 15 inches between the rows so my weeding is simple. You can keep on sowing more right up until August to get successive pickings.

[Sue32]

how long will they crop for - implies limited time if I need to sow for succession

[DD.]

Sorry, when talking about French Dwarfs, is that:  Atchoum (Sneezy), Dormeur (Sleepy), Grincheux (Grumpy), Joyeux (Happy), Prof (Doc), Simplet (Dopey) and Timide (Bashful).

Time for me to leave.

[Salmo]

I do not keep a record but last year I think the first lot were planted out in late May and a second lot late June and they overlapped so that some went in the freezer. In fact most of the second lot were frozen as they came at the same time as the runners, which would be early August. They probably crop for three weeks and then tail off.

I have grown them after early potatoes and also after shallots are lifted.

[Sue32]

I went to the plot today thinking I'd take down teh wigwam before the neighbours noticed my dwarfs, only to find that with all the rain they've taken off and have started to twine up the canes, already over 12" tall
Now I'm wondering just what it is that Wy**** have sold me?!

[Knoblauch]

Sorry, when talking about French Dwarfs, is that:  Atchoum (Sneezy), Dormeur (Sleepy), Grincheux (Grumpy), Joyeux (Happy), Prof (Doc), Simplet (Dopey) and Timide (Bashful).

Time for me to leave.

 

The thread title was crying out for it, let's admit it!

My own answer to "how big are French dwarves" - "assez grand pour satisfaire la Snow White" ... 

I'm positively scarpering now ...

[DD.]

I went to the plot today thinking I'd take down teh wigwam before the neighbours noticed my dwarfs, only to find that with all the rain they've taken off and have started to twine up the canes, already over 12" tall
Now I'm wondering just what it is that Wy**** have sold me?!

Sounds like you've got runner beans.

Although they could be climbing French beans.

Only one way to find out!

[mumofstig]

Slightly similar to what happened to my flowers for tubs.
Bought 3 lots of blue brachycome (sp?) to hang over sides of tubs, they started flowering today...bright yellow petunias not quite the tasteful contrast with pink busy lizzies i was aiming for.
How do they get the labelling so wrong

So i suppose the motto is grow your own (and hope they do what they say on the pkt!)

[Bombers]

So i suppose the motto is grow your own (and hope they do what they say on the pkt!)

I've just got two words to say to that. French Breakfast!!! 

[mumofstig]

So i suppose the motto is grow your own (and hope they do what they say on the pkt!)

I've just got two words to say to that. French Breakfast!!! 

Yup thats why i put the exclamation mark!! should have done a 'knowing wink' as well shouldn't I?....but at least you prefer the radish you've grown, even if it wasn't what you ordered.......my yuk petunias may yet have to be moved to the veg bed