[Stratts]

Hi guys,
Bit of a long shot but has anyone sown french beans this late in the season and got any results?

I never sowed enough climbers and we're running out of beans coz they've bean (see what I did there!!) a hit with the family this year!

I'm thinking the way the seasons are we always get plenty of good weather into October but would it be long enough before the cold weather to get anything?

What ya reckon?

Ta

[mumofstig]

as you say - it depends on the weather, whether or not it works 

Gotta be worth a try 

[Stratts]

I'll let you know how it goes 

Any idea how long dwarf frenchies take to produce from sowing?

I can help them along by covering and keep covered in big bell type cloches

[mumofstig]

John's sowing and harvest chart
http://www.allotment-garden.org/grow-your-own/sowing-harvesting-vegetables-chart

shows sow until July and harvest till October 

[Stratts]

Ta might be pushing it but nothing ventured and all that!! 

[arugula]

I'll let you know how it goes 

Any idea how long dwarf frenchies take to produce from sowing?

I can help them along by covering and keep covered in big bell type cloches

It is on the late side but agree with mumofstig - nothing ventured nothing gained indeed. I also wanted to add that as our weather can be a bit cooler at times than further south in the UK we've grown dwarf french beans in our polytunnel before now and the plants absolutely loved it! if you can get them growing under cover, I think you might do it.

As an aside, we have one climbing french bean plant in there now - ran out of space outdoors -and it is doing much better than the outdoor plants.

[BigPaddy]

If they don't work out you still get an excellent green manure capturing nitrogen.

BP

[Stratts]

If they don't work out you still get an excellent green manure capturing nitrogen.

BP

Good point with that in mind where would be best to grow them now? Would it be where my brassicas will be next year?

[angelavdavis]

I started some Blauhilde climbing beans off in toilet rolls this week - I will either put them in outside if the temperature looks good or in the GH. 

[mumofstig]

just a thought about beans/peas and nitrogen. Modern research indicates that very little Nitrogen is left for future crops unless all of the plant is dug in.  Nitrogen Fixation in Legumes
The bit about Nitrogen Return to Soil is bottom right page 2 

[hubballi]

I wouldn't bother with FB. I hardly get any returns on my dwarf variety in the greenhouse. Best with runners 

[mumofstig]

I would bother - I'm getting a fantastic crop on my climbing purple French beans at the mo 

[hubballi]

I think I will try the climbing variety next season if that is the case.

[gazza975526570]

Climbing are a lot better - you really do get tons, but i grow both as it also fills a lot of ground at the back end when you may not have much else in

Ive sown another 50 dwarf varieties a couple of week ago and i reckon they should provide a decent late crop

[mumofstig]

I think I will try the climbing variety next season if that is the case.

It certainly is for me, and the purple varieties (they turn green as they cook) seem more hardy, in my experience - although others may not agree.