Beans are versatile, delicious, and easy to grow, making them a garden favourite for generations. Whether climbing, bushy, or broad, there’s a variety to suit every space and taste. Add beans to your garden this season and enjoy the satisfaction of fresh, homegrown harvests.
Position
Plant in a sunny, well-drained area with easy access for harvesting.
Preparation & Planting
- Enrich the soil with compost before planting.
- Sow seeds 2–5cm deep and 10–20cm apart in rows spaced 60cm apart.
- Apply slug bait after planting to protect young plants.
Care & Maintenance
- Keep plants well-watered during hot, dry months.
- Harvest often to extend the picking season.
Storage
Enjoy fresh, cooked, or blanch and freeze beans for up to six months.
Varieties of Beans
Beans come in a variety of types, from dwarf bushes to climbers, with pod colours ranging from green to yellow and textures from broad to slender.
Climbing Beans
Climbing beans need support, such as a trellis, bamboo stakes, or a decorative willow obelisk. Most varieties mature in 14 weeks.
- Scarlet Runner ‘Tenderline’: Long, tender pods that regrow when cut back.
- Scarlet Runner ‘Goliath’: A versatile variety perfect for freezing, regrows annually.
- Bean Snake ‘Orient Wonder’: Slender, 40cm pods with a unique flavour, great for stir-fries.
- Climber ‘Shiny Fardenlosa’: Stringless pods with a melt-in-your-mouth texture.
French Beans & Dwarfs
French beans are compact and quick to mature, ideal for pots or small spaces.
- Dwarf ‘Tendergreen’: Stringless, crisp pods, excellent for containers.
- Dwarf ‘Bush Baby’: Prolific, tender pods up to 100mm long.
- ‘Barlotti Red Rooster’: Red and white pods, perfect for baked beans.
- Dwarf ‘Scarlet Pimpernel’: Small, traditional pods for pots or small gardens.
Butter Beans
Yellow pods with a softer texture and delicate flavour.
- Dwarf ‘Yellow Butter Cherokee’: Vivid yellow pods, great for salads.
- Climber ‘Golden Crown’: High-yielding with a long harvesting season.
Broad Beans
These giants are making a comeback in the kitchen. Pick young for a sweet, tender taste or let mature for a stronger flavour.
- Broad Bean ‘Coles Prolific’: Smaller plants with large, tender crops.
- Broad Bean ‘Green Seeded’: Bright green pods with a sweet, melting taste.
