• DELIVERY INFO: Now taking pre-orders for Spring Plants for 2024. Bare-Rooted Fruit plants will be shipped in Dec/Jan. See FAQs for further info.

Dwarf French Bean – Purple Queen

£6.99

A real show stopper in the kitchen garden 
This variety of bean not only tastes amazing but looks stunning growing in the veg patch. As these form a compact plant, they are great for growing in pots and containers. With deep green foliage, pretty flowers and deep glossy purple pods, these really are eye catching plants. Growing your own beans is incredibly easy using our plug plants and you will receive a complete growing guide with your order.

Number of plants: 10 plug plants

Variety: Purple Queen (organic*)

In the kitchen: Delicious steamed until tender.

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.

Beans

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.

Beans

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.

Beans

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.

Beans

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.

Beans

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!

Beans

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.

Symptom checker

Holes in leaves/slime trails = Slugs or snails

Yellow leaves = Lack of water/nutrients

White papery patches on leaves = Lack of water

Stunted growth = Too cold/windy for young seedlings to thrive. Protect them with a cloche

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.

Cooking Tips

  • Bring water to the boil before adding beans to the pan – this will help to keep them a nice vibrant green.
  • Unfortunately, purple beans do not retain their colour once cooked. They turn green instead.
  • Young borlotti beans can be treated as runner beans if you want to harvest them earlier in the season.

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.

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