• DELIVERY INFO: Seed potatoes & onion/shallot sets are now being shipped. Plug plants will be shipped from late April onwards. See FAQs for further info.

French Climbing Bean – Blue Lake

£6.99

Easy to grow, decorative, and deliciously tasty
This variety of bean plant produces stringless, green pods. The beans inside are pure white and can be used as haricot beans at the end of the season. The plants can reach up to 1.5m in height and will need to climb a support. French Beans are easy to grow from plug plants, just plant in beds or large containers in a sunny vegetable plot or garden. Full planting and growing instructions are provided with the plants.

Number of plants: 10 plug plants

Variety: Blue Lake (organic)

In the kitchen: Great steamed with a drizzle of olive oil. Slightly sweeter in flavour than other French Beans

THESE PLANTS WILL BE SHIPPED IN SPRING 2024

Delivery Info: Please see FAQs for up-to-date delivery info.

Planting Advice: Plant plugs in full sunshine and keep well watered. Harvesting: You can expect to harvest beans from mid to late summer. If you want to dry and store the beans, allow them to reach maturity on the plants before harvesting in early autumn - dry out thoroughly before storing in airtight jars.

*Transplants suitable for organic growing.

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A sunny site

Beans are perfect for a sunny, well-drained spot. They prefer to grow in moist, fertile soil in a sheltered location away from strong winds. Avoid growing beans in very wet soils.

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Beds or pots?

For climbing beans: Raised beds or a traditional veg plot is best. You can also grow them in large, deep containers. They will need something to climb up – it’s easiest to make a wigwam out of bamboo canes.

For dwarf varieties: Raised beds, traditional veg plots and pots and containers work well (1 to a small pot), as do grow bags (3 to 4 per grow bag). These dwarf varieties do not need support.

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How far apart?

For climbing beans: 30cm apart around the base of a wigwam support is about right.

For dwarf beans: 20cm apart

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Plant out in mid spring

If your plants arrive while it’s still a bit chilly, in April/early May, it’s worth planting them in pots and popping them in the greenhouse or on a windowsill until it warms up a bit.

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Keep them well watered

Beans are thirsty plants and need plenty of water to help them flourish. When plants are young, water every day whilst they get established. During dry spells, water frequently and deeply, not allowing the soil to dry out.

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Keep weeds down

Keep weeds down so that they have a better chance of growing up nice and strong!

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When to harvest

Once the plants are flowering in summer, you’ll soon see the bean pods starting to form. Pick beans when they reach the right size, and remember that the more often you pick them, the more they will keep producing!

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Drying beans to store

If you are growing beans to dry and store (e.g. borlotti beans) – leave pods on the plant until they start to change colour and dry out at the end of the season. Harvest them during a dry spell, (avoid leaving them on the plant for too long if it is wet and damp as they will soon start to rot) and leave them in a warm, dry place to fully dry out. You should be able to hear them rattling inside when you shake them. Once the beans are completely dry, you can pod them and store them in an airtight jar.

Slugs & Snails

You’ll quickly see the tell tale signs of nibbled leaves and slime trails if slugs and snails are eating your plants. Set beer traps, put a barrier of natural slug deterrent (broken egg shells, grit etc) around the base of plants, do a dusk slug patrol and keep the plot as free from slug-friendly hiding places as possible. Read more slug tactics 


Yellow/discoloured leaves

If leaves are not a healthy green, you can be sure that they are not getting enough water and nutrients from the soil. Water daily, preferably in the morning, and use a liquid feed fortnightly until the plants recover.


White/brown patches on leaves

If you see thin white or brown papery patches on leaves it is most likely to be a lack of water. Give plants a deep watering to replenish moisture levels in the soil, then water at least every other day to keep them healthy.


Storage Tips

Once picked, beans will keep in the fridge for a few days, although they taste better if used fresh.

If you’d like to dry the beans out, wait until they have dried out on the plants. Then, pick them and leave them to dry out in a nice dry place before you shell them. Keep the beans in an airtight container. (Don’t forget to soak them again before you cook them!)

Recipe ideas

  • Beans are delicious simply steamed and served with a  drizzle of olive oil and pinch of sea salt.
  • Try a runner bean chutney – it is seriously good!
  • Serve French Beans in a tomato & garlic sauce with crunchy breadcrumbs on top.

Do I need to sign for them?
All our plug plant orders are dispatched with an overnight courier* to mainland UK and do not need to be signed for when they are delivered, but will be left somewhere safe. When placing your order, please let us know where you would like the plug plants left if you are not in when the courier delivers.

We will keep you posted
You will receive an email approximately a week before your order is dispatched and another on the day your plug plants are packed and leave us so you know to expect and prepare for their arrival.