Low-maintenance Veg and Fruit to Grow - Gardeners' World
Courgettes, squashes and patty pans are easy to grow. Plant out in late May into well-prepared ground (buy young plants to save time).
French beans
Sow <anchor>French beans</anchor> where you want them to grow, in open ground or containers, from mid-May to early August. They're easy to look after as no thinning out or supports are needed. The same plants crop for three to four weeks, so sow a row every three weeks to keep yourself stocked all summer.
How To Grow French Beans | BBC Gardeners World Magazine
How To Grow French Beans \| BBC Gardeners World Magazine

[Toggle main-navigation popup](#main-navigation-popup)

[![Gardeners World Logo](https://media.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/10/2022/05/Gardeners-World-Logo-Horizontal-Black-6e80d39.png?quality=90&resize=120,10)](https://www.gardenersworld.com)

- [Subscribe](/subscribe/ "Subscribe")
- [Newsletter sign up](/newsletters/ "Newsletter sign up")
- [2-for-1 Gardens](/2-for-1-gardens/ "2-for-1 Gardens")
- [Buy Magazine](/news/buy-bbc-gardeners-world-magazine/ "Buy Magazine")

[Toggle search popup](#search-popup)

[![Gardeners World Logo](https://media.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/10/2022/05/Gardeners-World-Logo-Horizontal-Black-6e80d39.png?quality=90&resize=379,31)](https://www.gardenersworld.com)

From the team at BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

- [What to do now](/what-to-do-now-september/ "What to do now")
- [Plants](/plants/ "Plants")


- Back toMain menu
- [Plant finder](/search?q=plants&tab=plants "Plant finder")
- [Trees & shrubs](/plants/native-trees-and-shrubs-to-grow/ "Trees & shrubs")
- [Perennials](/plant-profiles/perennial-plants/ "Perennials")
- [Fruit, veg & herbs](/plants/low-maintenance-veg-and-fruit/ "Fruit, veg & herbs")
- [Climbers](/plant-profiles/climbers/ "Climbers")
- [Bulbs](/plant-profiles/bulbs/ "Bulbs")
- [Seed sowing](/grow-guides/seed-sowing/ "Seed sowing")
- [Allotments](/grow-guides/allotment-growing/ "Allotments")
- [Houseplants](/grow-guides/grow-house-plants/ "Houseplants")


- Back toPlants
- [House plant flies](/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-tackle-house-plant-flies/ "House plant flies")
- [Grow Orchids](/plants/how-to-care-for-orchids/ "Grow Orchids")
- [Cat friendly house plants](/how-to/grow-plants/plants-cat-friendly-houseplants/ "Cat friendly house plants")
- [Browse all house plants](/grow-guides/grow-house-plants/ "Browse all house plants")

- [Flowers](/plants/different-types-of-flowers-to-grow/ "Flowers")


- Back toPlants
- [Salvia](/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-salvia/ "Salvia")
- [Honeysuckle](/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-honeysuckle/ "Honeysuckle")
- [Tulips](/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-tulips/ "Tulips")
- [Browse all flower guides](/grow-guides/grow-flowers/ "Browse all flower guides")

- [Vegetables](/grow-guides/grow-vegetables/ "Vegetables")


- Back toPlants
- [Grow Garlic](/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-garlic/ "Grow Garlic")
- [Grow Ginger](/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-ginger/ "Grow Ginger")
- [Ripen Tomatoes](/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-ripen-late-tomatoes/ "Ripen Tomatoes")
- [Browse all veg guides](/grow-guides/grow-vegetables/ "Browse all veg guides")

- [Fruits](/grow-guides/grow-fruits/ "Fruits")


- Back toPlants
- [Store Apples](/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-store-apples/ "Store Apples")
- [Prune Raspberries](/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-strawberries/ "Prune Raspberries")
- [Grow Figs](http://how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-figs/ "Grow Figs")
- [Browse all fruit plants](/plant-profiles/grow-fruits/ "Browse all fruit plants")

- [Advice](/garden-advice/ "Advice")


- Back toMain menu
- [Gardening guides](/garden-advice/ "Gardening guides")


- Back toAdvice
- [Beginner guides](/garden-advice/beginner-gardening/ "Beginner guides")
- [How to prune](/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-prune-your-plants/ "How to prune")
- [Mulch guide](/how-to/maintain-the-garden/mulches-and-mulching/ "Mulch guide")
- [Composting](/plants/four-ways-to-better-compost/ "Composting")
- [Lawn mowing](/how-to/maintain-the-garden/12-lawn-mowing-tips/ "Lawn mowing")
- [Propagate](/grow-guides/propagating/ "Propagate")
- [Browse all gardening guides](/garden-advice/beginner-gardening/ "Browse all gardening guides")

- [Seasonal guides](/garden-advice/autumn-guides/ "Seasonal guides")


- Back toAdvice
- [Autumn Borders](/plants/give-borders-an-autumn-boost/ "Autumn Borders")
- [Autumn flowers](/plants/best-autumn-flowers/ "Autumn flowers")
- [Autumn lawn care](/how-to/maintain-the-garden/autumn-lawn-care-best-feeds/ "Autumn lawn care")
- [Autumn pruning](/plants/plants-to-prune-in-autumn/ "Autumn pruning")
- [Take Lavender cuttings](/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-take-lavender-cuttings/ "Take Lavender cuttings")
- [Take rose cuttings](/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-take-rose-cuttings/ "Take rose cuttings")
- [Browse all spring guides](/garden-advice/spring-guides/ "Browse all spring guides")

- [Solve problems](/garden-advice/solve-problems/ "Solve problems")


- Back toAdvice
- [Remove snails](/how-to/solve-problems/snails/ "Remove snails")
- [Control Aphids](/how-to/solve-problems/aphids/ "Control Aphids")
- [Tomato Blight](/how-to/solve-problems/tomato-blight/ "Tomato Blight")
- [Common problems](/how-to/grow-plants/gardening-for-beginners-problem-solving/ "Common problems")

- [Maintenance](/how-to/maintain-the-garden/ "Maintenance")


- Back toAdvice
- [Trim conifers](/how-to/maintain-the-garden/how-to-trim-a-conifer-hedge/ "Trim conifers")
- [Leaf mould](/how-to/maintain-the-garden/how-to-make-leaf-mould/ "Leaf mould")
- [Lawn weeds](/how-to/maintain-the-garden/how-to-remove-lawn-weeds/ "Lawn weeds")
- [Browse all maintenance](/how-to/maintain-the-garden "Browse all maintenance")

- [Design your garden](/garden-advice/design/ "Design your garden")


- Back toAdvice
- [Year round colour](/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-plan-for-year-round-colour/ "Year round colour")
- [Garden wall ideas](/plants/planting-ideas-for-garden-walls/ "Garden wall ideas")
- [Front garden design](/plants/designing-a-front-garden/ "Front garden design")
- [Greenhouse](/plants/essential-greenhouse-guide/ "Greenhouse")
- [Lawns](/garden-advice/lawns/ "Lawns")
- [Wildlife pond](/how-to/diy/how-to-make-a-wildlife-pond/ "Wildlife pond")
- [Browse garden design](/garden-advice/design/ "Browse garden design")

- [Wildlife](/wildlife/ "Wildlife")


- Back toAdvice
- [Hedgehog house](/how-to/diy/how-to-make-a-hedgehog-house/ "Hedgehog house")
- [Plants for wildlife](/plants/wildlife-friendly-plants/ "Plants for wildlife")
- [Identifying wildlife](/wildlife/identifying-wildlife/ "Identifying wildlife")
- [Feeding wildlife](/wildlife/feeding-wildlife/ "Feeding wildlife")
- [Garden jobs for wildlife](/wildlife/garden-jobs-for-wildlife/ "Garden jobs for wildlife")
- [All wildlife guides](/wildlife/ "All wildlife guides")

- [Lawn care](/garden-advice/lawns/ "Lawn care")


- Back toAdvice
- [Top dressing lawn](/how-to/maintain-the-garden/top-dressing-lawn/ "Top dressing lawn")
- [Lawns in small garden](/plants/lawns-in-small-gardens/ "Lawns in small garden")
- [Lawn mowing tips](/how-to/maintain-the-garden/12-lawn-mowing-tips/ "Lawn mowing tips")
- [Lawn spring boost](/how-to/maintain-the-garden/how-to-give-your-lawn-a-spring-boost/ "Lawn spring boost")
- [Lawn care tips](/plants/top-lawn-care-tips/ "Lawn care tips")

- [Reviews](/reviews/ "Reviews")


- Back toMain menu
- [Tools](/reviews/tools/ "Tools")
- [Lawn care](/reviews/lawn-care/ "Lawn care")
- [Gardening kit](/reviews/gardening-kit/ "Gardening kit")
- [Product guides](/product-guides/ "Product guides")
- [Best buys](/tag/best-buy/ "Best buys")
- [Browse all reviews](/reviews/ "Browse all reviews")

- [Offers](/garden-offers/ "Offers")


- Back toMain menu
- [Garden offers](/garden-offers/latest-deals/ "Garden offers")


- Back toOffers
- [Travel & events](/garden-offers/travel-and-events/ "Travel & events")
- [Gardening webinars](/grow-how/ "Gardening webinars")
- [Subscriber discounts](/garden-offers/subscriber-club-discount/ "Subscriber discounts")
- [Browse all garden offers](/garden-offers/gardening-offers/page/ "Browse all garden offers")

- [2-for-1 Gardens](https://www.gardenersworld.com/2-for-1-gardens/ "2-for-1 Gardens")

- [Win](/win-2/ "Win")
- [Premium](https://www.gardenersworld.com/premium/september/ "Premium")
- [Subscribe](/subscribe/ "Subscribe")
- [Newsletter sign up](/newsletters/ "Newsletter sign up")
- [2-for-1 Gardens](/2-for-1-gardens/ "2-for-1 Gardens")
- [Buy Magazine](/news/buy-bbc-gardeners-world-magazine/ "Buy Magazine")

Search

No result

- [Home](https://www.gardenersworld.com:443)
- [How to](https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/)
- [Grow plants](https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/)
- How to grow French beans

![A bowlful of freshly picked French beans](https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/10/2018/02/50d66ab1-8fa8-4bf3-8889-9f4ac65856b1-7bb2bef.jpg?quality=90&resize=940,627)

# How to grow French beans

- [BBC Gardeners' World Magazine](/author/gw-staff/)

Published: Sunday, 19 May 2019 at 3:12 pm

[Subscribe today and get a £10 M&S e-gift card plus save 40% on the shop price.](https://www.buysubscriptions.com/print/bbc-gardeners-world-magazine-subscription?promo=GWBS924&utm_medium=brandsite&utm_source=gardenersworld.com&utm_campaign=autumn-2024-gift-card_gwbs924&utm_content=editorial-link&style=brand)

All you need to about growing delicious French beans, in our practical Grow Guide.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecSow_yes__yes__yes__yes_Plant_yes__yes_Harvest_yes__yes__yes__yes_

Save

- [Share on facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-french-beans/)
- [Share on twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=How%20to%20grow%20French%20beans%0A%0A&url=https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-french-beans/)
- [Share on pinterest](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-french-beans/&media=https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/10/2018/02/50d66ab1-8fa8-4bf3-8889-9f4ac65856b1-7bb2bef.jpg&description=How%20to%20grow%20French%20beans)
- [Share on whatsapp](whatsapp://send?text=%22How%20to%20grow%20French%20beans%22%20https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-french-beans/)
- [Share on blogger](https://www.blogger.com/blog-this.g?u=https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-french-beans/&n=How%20to%20grow%20French%20beans)
- [Email to a friend](mailto:?subject=Oh look...&body=Saw this and thought of you...%0A%0Ahttps://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-french-beans/)

[French beans](/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-french-beans/) give you two crops for the price of one: enjoy the pods when they're young and tender, or leave them to dry on the plant for use as haricot beans. Easy to grow and heavy cropping, French beans are available as dwarf types that are suitable for growing in pots, or as climbers that will crop reliably during hot weather, unlike [runner beans](/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-runner-beans/).

Advertisement

More advice on growing French beans:

- [Fact File: French beans](/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-french-beans/)
- [How to plant out French beans](/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-plant-out-french-beans/)
- [How to sow dwarf beans in pots](/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-sow-dwarf-beans/)
- [French bean and lettuce container display](/how-to/grow-plants/french-bean-and-lettuce-container/)

* * *

### How to grow French beans from seed

![Planting out French bean seedlings](https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/10/2018/02/581c6c82-4f70-40d4-a249-7e1fb8050c24-d979667.jpg?quality=90&fit=700,466)

Planting young French bean plants from pots into the ground beside supporting canes

* * *

### Sowing and planting French beans

French beans need sun, shelter and a fertile, moisture-retentive soil. They don’t do well on heavy clay, so dig in plenty of well-rotted organic matter, such as garden compost, before planting.

As a tender crop, French beans need to be sown indoors from April, then planted outside after the last frost, usually in late May or early June. For a supply of beans through to autumn, keep sowing every three weeks until early summer. Later sowings can be made outdoors, but seedlings need to be covered with a cloche to keep them warm.

###### More like this

Dwarf French beans planted 15cm apart won’t need any staking. Climbing French beans look particularly attractive grown with sweet [peas](/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-peas/) on a [wigwam of canes](/how-to/grow-plants/growing-climbing-beans-video/) in the flower border.

* * *

### Looking after French bean plants

For a good crop of beans, water plants regularly, especially while they’re flowering. Maintain the moisture in the soil around the roots by applying a mulch of garden compost.

![French beans ready to pick](https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/10/2018/02/d6e056cf-c552-44db-b57c-fe271b3e1a83-d979667.jpg?quality=90&fit=700,466)

A cluster of ripe French beans, ready to pick

### Harvesting French beans

For delicious, tender French beans, pick them as soon as they are large enough to eat (after about eight weeks). Snip them off with scissors. Regular picking encourages the plant to produce more beans.

* * *

### Storing French beans

If you don’t want to eat the whole crop straight away, blanch beans in boiling water for two minutes and freeze.

* * *

### Preparing and using French beans

Never eat raw pods. To prepare, top and tail the beans, then lightly steam and serve with a knob of butter. You can also add cooked beans to salads. Dried beans must be soaked for at least five hours, then briskly boiled for 10 minutes and simmered for an hour or so before being added to soups and casseroles.

* * *

### French beans: pests and diseases

Watch out for [slugs](/how-to/solve-problems/slugs/), which love to eat young plants. Deter them with crushed eggshells or apply nematodes.

You may spot [green shield bugs](/how-to/solve-problems/green-shield-bug/) on your runner bean plants. These are harmless bugs and will not damage your crop.

#### How to dry French beans

Leave the pods on the plant to dry naturally. Or, if the weather turns damp, dig up the whole plant and hang it upside down in a warm, airy place to dry. Empty the pods and store the beans in jars in a cool, dark place.

![](https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/10/2017/01/french-beans-square-01dc479.png?quality=90&resize=767,697)

![French bean 'Purple Teepee'](https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/10/2018/02/4bd9352c-aa0d-4de6-8db9-514f2226dfe0-eea21bd.jpg?quality=90&fit=700,466)

Dark purple beans of cultivar 'Purple Teepee'

## Great French bean varieties to grow

Dwarf beans:

- 'Borlotto' – colourful mature pods that are ideal for drying. Beans have a pleasant texture and flavour
- 'Purple Teepee' – abundant harvests of eye-catching purple pods up to 15cm long
- 'Sonesta' – stringless, pretty yellow beans that grow up to 13cm long

Climbing beans:

Advertisement

- 'Borlotto Lingua di Fuoco Nano' – an Italian variety with spectacular pods splashed with red
- 'Hunter' – large crops of stringless, flat pods up to 20cm long and good disease resistance
- [‘Sansoucy’](/plants/phaseolus-vulgaris-sansoucy/) \- produces beans held high above the foliage. 45cm heigh, 30cm long

Advertisement

Advertisement

[![Subscribe to BBC Gardeners' World Magazine](https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/10/2024/08/Brandsite-autumn-ecb1804.jpg?quality=90&resize=2048,1365)](https://www.buysubscriptions.com/print/bbc-gardeners-world-magazine-subscription?promo=GWBS924&utm_medium=brandsite&utm_source=gardenersworld.com&utm_campaign=autumn-2024-gift-card_gwbs924&utm_content=sidebar-widget&style=brand)

[**Subscription offer**](https://www.buysubscriptions.com/print/bbc-gardeners-world-magazine-subscription?promo=GWBS924&utm_medium=brandsite&utm_source=gardenersworld.com&utm_campaign=autumn-2024-gift-card_gwbs924&utm_content=sidebar-widget&style=brand)

Subscribe today and get a £10 M&S e-gift card.

[Subscribe now](https://www.buysubscriptions.com/print/bbc-gardeners-world-magazine-subscription?promo=GWBS924&utm_medium=brandsite&utm_source=gardenersworld.com&utm_campaign=autumn-2024-gift-card_gwbs924&utm_content=sidebar-widget&style=brand)

[![](https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/10/2024/08/Sept-1200-800-dd479cd.jpg?quality=90&resize=1200,800)](https://bit.ly/3SMpUbN)

[**September issue on sale now!**](https://bit.ly/3SMpUbN)

The September issue of BBC Gardeners' World magazine is on sale now, buy online or in stores now.

[Buy here](https://bit.ly/3SMpUbN)

Advertisement

[![Subscribe to BBC Gardeners' world magazine](https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/10/2024/08/GW1920X360SEPT24-f094c00.jpg?quality=90&resize=1920,360)](https://www.buysubscriptions.com/print/bbc-gardeners-world-magazine-subscription?promo=GWBS924&utm_medium=brandsite&utm_source=gardenersworld.com&utm_campaign=autumn-2024-gift-card_gwbs924&utm_content=footer-widget&style=brand)

[![Gardeners World logo](https://media.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/10/2022/05/Gardeners-World-Logo-Stacked-White-352eda6.png?quality=90&resize=212,66)](https://www.gardenersworld.com)

- [Visit us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/GWmagazine)
- [Visit us on Twitter](https://twitter.com/gwmag)
- [Visit us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/gardenersworldmag/)
- [Visit us on Pinterest](http://uk.pinterest.com/gwmag)
- [Visit us on Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8kRP4T6HbZnsheHCuIB_FQ)
- [Visit us on Rss](/feed/atom/)

- [About us](/about-us/ "About us")
- [Contact us](/contact-us/ "Contact us")
- [Privacy policy](https://www.immediate.co.uk/privacy/ "Privacy policy")
- [Cookie policy](https://www.immediate.co.uk/cookies/ "Cookie policy")
- [Terms & conditions](http://www.immediate.co.uk/terms-and-conditions/ "Terms & conditions")
- [Advertise](/contact-us/ "Advertise")
- [Complaints](http://www.immediate.co.uk/complaints-escalation/ "Complaints")
- [FAQs](/faqs/ "FAQs")
- [Contact BBC Studios](https://www.bbcstudios.com/contact/contact-us/ "Contact BBC Studios")
- Manage Privacy Settings

[![null Logo](https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/10/2024/03/ImmediateLogoRGBWhite-382037d.png?quality=90&resize=3873,767)](https://www.immediate.co.uk)

This website is published by Immediate Media Company Limited under licence from BBC Studios Distribution.© Immediate Media Company Ltd. 2024

- [BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair](https://www.bbcgardenersworldlive.com/autumn-fair/?utm_source=gwcom&utm_medium=footer&utm_campaign=gwaf24 "BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair")

- [Plant profiles](/plant-profiles/ "Plant profiles")
- [Alpine plants](/plant-profiles/alpine-plants/ "Alpine plants")
- [Annual plants](/plant-profiles/annual-plants/ "Annual plants")
- [Biennial plants](/plant-profiles/biennial-plants/ "Biennial plants")
- [Bog plants](/plant-profiles/bog-plants/ "Bog plants")
- [Bulbs](/plant-profiles/bulbs/ "Bulbs")
- [Climbers](/plant-profiles/climbers/ "Climbers")
- [Deciduous plants](/plant-profiles/deciduous-plants/ "Deciduous plants")
- [Evergreen plants](/plant-profiles/evergreens-plants/ "Evergreen plants")
- [Fruits](/plant-profiles/fruits/ "Fruits")
- [Herbs](/plant-profiles/herbs/ "Herbs")
- [House plants](/plant-profiles/house-plants/ "House plants")
- [Marginal plants](/plant-profiles/marginal-plants/ "Marginal plants")
- [Perennial plants](/plant-profiles/perennial-plants/ "Perennial plants")
- [Semi-evergreen plants](/plant-profiles/semi-evergreen-plants/ "Semi-evergreen plants")
- [Shrubs](/plant-profiles/shrubs-plants/ "Shrubs")
- [Trees](/plant-profiles/trees/ "Trees")
- [Weeds](/plant-profiles/weeds/ "Weeds")