French beans
Last post 09-07-2009 1:06 PM by bogweevil. 7 replies.
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08/07/2009 07:13 PM
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- Enfrance
- South West France
- 08 Jul 2009
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4
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This may seem a silly question living in France and growing French beans but I'm not clear how many sowings I should make for a succession of beans. Today I sowed 12 'groups' of 4-5 seeds. My question is, when these fruit will it be enough for a meal or two and when should I sow the next 'group' to keep the succession going? Sorry, that's two questions 
My neighbour grows his all in two long lines but uses a freezer for the excess not bothering to create a succession. We are just a little ahead of the UK here judging by the stage of vegetables we saw growing last week in Yorkshire.
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08/07/2009 10:32 PM
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My father used to make two sowings of a dozen or more seeds per sowing, several weeks apart, and as we were picking and eating from the first sowing, the second would be growing. There were plenty of beans to pick several times a week for a family of four for a good few weeks from each sowing, as the more he picked the more they produced.
If my math is correct, you will have around 50 plants? Although I'm not certain what you mean by 'groups' ~ is it 4~5 seeds per pot to pick the strongest to use? In which case, you have around a dozen prospective plants, so in my experience (which is neither vast nor great) you should have plenty for several meals.
The way my own beans have germinated this year I will be lucky to have any meals at all!!! I lost my first two sowings, and currently have a few plants that survived from a third attempt, but the slugs are demolishing them at a rate of knots. I know that in the past I watched my gardening predecessors plant up to two dozen beans twice in a season and give away the surplus, but if I have any surplus I shall most likely make green bean chutney.
One is nearer God's heart in a garden than anywhere else on earth.
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08/07/2009 11:02 PM
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- RogerBee
- Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
- 14 Jan 2009
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84
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To get a succession of plants, and therefore hopefully beans, I would sow a few every 2-3 weeks. The size of the crop will depend to a certain extent on the variety sown and how young you decide to pick them. Small, as fine green beans that can be cooked whole, or wait for them to mature more and slice them up as 'normal'.
Give it a go - it might just work!
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09/07/2009 07:05 AM
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Depends where you live in France - Gascony is very diferent to northern France. If the latter the sowings recommended for south-east England would be satisfactory:
- April in heat to plant out in May and cover with fleece
- Outdoors in May and cover with fleece
- Again in Mid June
- Ditto Early July
- Again in late July
- Mid August and cover with fleece or cloches from September
- Late August, probably have to be dug in as green manure, but you may get lucky
If you grow climbing French beans life gets easier as they have a slightly longer period of cropping, so mid May (stick to dwarf for earliest), early June, Early July, mid July and go back to dwarf ones for late sowings.
Boggy
Beware the bat-eared bogweevil
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09/07/2009 07:36 AM
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- Enfrance
- South West France
- 08 Jul 2009
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4
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Thank you everyone for those answers. The 'groups' - I couldn't think of another name - are where I put 4 or 5 seeds in one spot to choose the best plant. Looks like I've guessed about right for the number of plants and perhaps next time I'll try the climbing variety. Slugs? OK, I'll be on the alert. I know I've sown these seeds rather late even for this neck of the woods but I had some spare ground to use and the its the first time with beansfor me.
As this is a British forum I don't want to confuse it with the geographical differences but, Boggy, your advice is gratefully received. I do use the advice of our neighbour who farmed this area for many years and his veg garden is beautiful despite his 87 years. But occasionally some advice is lost in the translation despite our mutual best efforts.  Thanks again.
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09/07/2009 08:20 AM
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The technical name for 'groups' is 'stations'.
French bean seed is relaible so three seeds should be adequate.
It can hardly be said to be late to sow french beans when they can be sown until August in England.
It is a pity that you are unwilling to provide geographical informaiton.
Boggy
Beware the bat-eared bogweevil
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09/07/2009 09:11 AM
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- Enfrance
- South West France
- 08 Jul 2009
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4
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Boggy, I do hope I didn't give the impression that I was unwilling to provide geographical info. Its just that this forum is really (?) intended for people in Britain and that climate so I would not want to get into discussions that would be irrelevant for most readers. That said, we are in the Dordogne just North of Perigueux. Last week it was 38ºC and last winter we got down to -15ºC again. We have had no rain since June 16th although Perigueux has which is just 30 minutes away.
The packet of seeds I'm using say that the last sowing should be around the end of July but I guess that its possible to go into August without a problem. Judging by the number of seeds in the packet and using just three seeds per station they should last a long time
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09/07/2009 01:06 PM
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Thanks - be aware that the beans will mature much more rapidly in your region than further north and therefore more frequent sowings at shorter intervals might be required to maintian a constant supply of fresh beans.
Given the longer growing season (unless you are very high up) I think later sowings are well worth attempting.
Boggy
Beware the bat-eared bogweevil
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