[Robert_S]

They do seem to be low yield plants, I've struggled to get more than a couple of servings off the handful of plants in the garden this year, but I have 3/4 of a bed full of them now on the allotment which are almost ready to start eating from, and I have much higher hopes for them.

I've also started off some climbing ones recently, in the hope they might crop before it all goes wintry. They are supposed to be higher yielding, so fingers crossed.

Cant beat french beans with a bit of salt pepper and lemon juice as a side dish, or in a salad, or best of all with some meatballs, chips and rice smothered with LG's tomato and chilli sauce  

[Lady Rosemary]

Cant beat french beans with a bit of salt pepper and lemon juice as a side dish, or in a salad, or best of all with some meatballs, chips and rice smothered with LG's tomato and chilli sauce  

Now I feel all hungry again! 

[Muddylou]

I love French beans so have around twenty plants that have been staggered over the spring and summer. I've frozen a lot for the winter and eat as many as I can. My friends get a lot also. I find growing them quite simple but can't grow red onions so win some   lose some.

[rubyrose]

our french climbing beans are doing really well again this year have been  picking every 2 to 3  days for  2 weeks now so eating / freezing  and giving them away. also runners doing the same. I also prefer french beans to runners.

[Nicki85]

My tall pole french beans, "Cherokee trail of tears" have been fab.. they have been producing really well and they are lovely and tender!  I also have some dwarf yellow "minidor" which haven't been quite as good but considering they are very short and stocky they have produced fairly well  Will be growing the pole ones again, not sure on the yellow ones  

[jazzbyrd]

My French beans have been great this year I have dwarf SAFARI,climbing BLAUHILDE,COBRA, all doing well and loads of them. I love cobra most of all.

Jazz

[rhysdad]

I'm growing Fasold and Blauhilde. I have thousands..... 

[hubballi]

Now I have French bean envy. Mind you, I am growing them in an old plastic header tank and have about 6 or 7 plants.

[sunshineband]

Now I have French bean envy. Mind you, I am growing them in an old plastic header tank and have about 6 or 7 plants.

AHA! That explains the lack of extra beans for the freezer   

[JayG]

Now I have French bean envy. Mind you, I am growing them in an old plastic header tank and have about 6 or 7 plants.

Don't worry about it Hubballi (as if!  )

I give away my surplus runner beans as I think they are quite revolting frozen (not just mine; some friends proudly produced some for a New Year meal earlier this year and I had to pretend I really enjoyed the grey, soggy, mess!) 

I admit that frozen French beans are a little better (but not much!) to my way of thinking. 

[Aunt Sally]

Runner beans are not nice after freezing but the kind of french hean I grow (Delinel) which is round is passable after freezing. Only blanche for 1 min. and minimal cooking before serving.

[mumofstig]

Aunty's right as usual you really only need to make sure they're hot, not to cook them any more

[azubah]

Runner beans are not nice after freezing but the kind of french hean I grow (Delinel) which is round is passable after freezing. Only blanche for 1 min. and minimal cooking before serving.

They freeze OK without blanching. Saves the extra work! I only blanch parsnips now, after years of blanching everything.

I am suprised how many of you don't like runner beans. Do you leave them to get too big before picking?

[Aunt Sally]

I love runner beans - just not frozen ones.

[Rangerkris]

We would not be with out French beans they are yummy yum yum, we have had a good crop of both runners and French.