French Bean
Phaseolus vulgaris
Smaller, rounder, and more delicate than runner beans, French beans come in climbing and dwarf varieties, in a remarkable range of colours from yellow to purple. They are tender, quick-cropping, and ideal for containers and small gardens.
SowingBoth methods
Sunlight☀️ Full sun
Water💧💧 Moderate
Days to harvest50–70
Soil pH6–7
Spacing10cm × 45cm
Planting Calendar
🌏 Adjusted for southern hemisphere seasons.
Sow indoorsSow outdoorsTransplantHarvest
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Protection from Frost
French beans are frost-tender — sow under glass if there is any risk of cold nights. Direct sow from late May when the soil has warmed to at least 12°C.Climbing vs Dwarf
Climbing varieties are more productive and need support — build canes or a trellis before sowing. Dwarf varieties need no support and are excellent for containers.Watering
Water consistently, particularly once plants are in flower. Irregular watering causes pods to drop or misshape.Soil: Well-drained, fertile soil. Will not tolerate waterlogging.