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When to plant
french beans in the UK
Dwarf varieties need no support. Pick every few days — once they start producing, they don't stop (unless you let pods go to seed).
Work out your own dates
Starts from the recommended sow date for your area. Sowed on a different day, or planted out late? Adjust below and the harvest moves with it.
Using the UK-average last frost · 15 April · add your postcode to tune it
Growing journey
9 weeks from planting out to harvest · Start indoors 5 weeks before planting out
Get french beans seeds
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What french beans need
Sun. Sheltered spot. Decent soil.
Spacing
15cm between plants · 20cm between rows
Space evenly in rows. Thin seedlings early to avoid crowding.
Varieties worth growing
The Prince
commonFlat-podded, stringless and quick to crop — a dwarf bush bean that needs no staking and hands you tender green pods by the armful. A kind, easy place to begin with beans.
French bean salad nicoise
Blanch until bright green and still snappy, then toss with good tinned tuna, halved cherry tomatoes, soft-boiled eggs, olives and a mustardy dressing. A whole summer lunch in a bowl.
Cobra
uncommonA climbing French bean that goes up rather than out, saving room and giving long, round, stringless pods for months. The more you pick, the more it gives — so keep a colander by the door.
French beans with shallots and almonds
Blanch the beans, toss in a pan with butter, sliced shallots, and flaked almonds until the almonds are golden. A simple side that elevates everything next to it.
Purple Teepee
uncommonDeep purple pods held up above the leaves, so you can see them easily and pick them young. They turn green in the pan — a small magic trick — but the flavour stays excellent, and they're a joy to grow with children.
Tempura purple beans
Leave whole, dip into ice-cold tempura batter, fry until light and crispy. Serve with soy sauce and pickled ginger. The purple stays if you're quick enough with the oil.
A golden-yellow wax bean with a silky, buttery texture quite unlike a green bean, and a name that's a small pleasure to say. The yellow pods show up beautifully against the leaves, which makes the picking easy and the harvest lovely to look at.
Yellow beans with tarragon
Boil the golden pods until just tender, then dress them warm with butter, fresh tarragon and a squeeze of lemon. The yellow beans and pale green tarragon make a quietly beautiful plate.
When to sow french beans
Based on UK average frost date. Enter your postcode for exact dates, or find your city.
Where to buy french beans seeds
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What you'll need for french beans
The stuff beginners wish they'd bought sooner.
For support, staking, and building frames. The most versatile length for the plot.
More in our equipment guide →For tying plants to canes and a hundred other jobs. Biodegradable, won't cut into stems.
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Get your exact dates
Enter your postcode for personalised planting dates for french beans.