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  • Do you grow french beans in a greenhouse?

    Do you grow french beans in a greenhouse or poly tunnel for an early crop?
    If so, what variety do you think is best?
    Many thanks
    Roger
    Its Grand to be Daft...

    https://www.youtube.com/user/beauchief1?feature=mhee

  • #2
    I've grown Crystal Ice or something or other once or twice but it does get a bit hot for them quite quickly. Personally I don't think it's worth it for very many and I'd stick to a dwarf variety.

    Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.

    Which one are you and is it how you want to be?

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    • #3
      I've tried growing both Climbing French and Runners in a greenhouse. Got far too much "top" and not enough beans (plus I didn't realise, at the time, that French are self fertilising, but Runners need insects (Bees?) for pollination and there weren't any/enough flying about that early in the season - not sure how easily they find their way into the greenhouse either, clearly some do but I don't know if that is "enough", and I hand pollinate other things, like Melons, in the greenhouse rather than relying on insect pollination).

      I've grown Dwarf French in the greenhouse, for an early crop and for a late Autumn crop (sow 1st week-ish of August). Not really thought about how large the crop was, as I only grew them as a gap-filler and I have sufficient greenhouse space
      K's Garden blog the story of the creation of our garden

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      • #4
        DFB in the polytunnel do really well for me as both early and late crops. I think they do really well crop quantity wise. The Autumn ones are possibly more hit and miss than the earlies but spring weather can be dodgy! I use more or less whatever beans I have around that have the shortest days to harvest figure. I think climbers occupy too much space for yield. I don't grow runners inside anymore (but I wish I had this year as my runners really struggled outside) but when I did I had a really good crop. Insects find it really easy to get into my tunnel, though, from the earliest bee on winter beans onwards. I have lots of flowers dotted around the beds, Cerinthe is my biggest "weed".
        "A life lived in fear is a life half lived."

        PS. I just don't have enough time to say hello to everyone as they join so please take this as a delighted to see you here!

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        • #5
          I grow dwarf frenchies in containers in the greenhouse for an early crop and they go outside as soon as the weather is kind enough. It gives me pickings a few weeks ahead of the main crop but I've never grown under cover for a late crop. I'm usually sick of the sight of beans by October. This year I seem to have been picking them every other day and just bunging them in the freezer. I suppose I'll be grateful for them next March!

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          • #6
            Originally posted by marchogaeth View Post
            DFB in the polytunnel do really well for me as both early and late crops. I think they do really well crop quantity wise. The Autumn ones are possibly more hit and miss than the earlies but spring weather can be dodgy! I use more or less whatever beans I have around that have the shortest days to harvest figure.
            Very much the same here too. A worthwhile crop and lovely to have them that little bit earlier. I also grow some Climbing FB inside, more so the ones that are a little slow to ripen for shelling or dry beans. But the same as Runners you need a bit of space for them to grow or they get a bit unruly.
            Mostly Tomato Mania Blog

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            • #7
              Originally posted by Kristen View Post
              I've tried growing both Climbing French and Runners in a greenhouse. Got far too much "top" and not enough beans
              yep, same result here


              The gh is better used for things that like the heat, eg chillies, toms, aubergines
              All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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              • #8
                Thanks folks... I have decided to grow DFB in pots in my cold greenhouse then move em to the patio after the frost has done... like I did with the bush tomatoes.
                Its Grand to be Daft...

                https://www.youtube.com/user/beauchief1?feature=mhee

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                • #9
                  I grew Blue Lake climbing beans up the gable end of my greenhouse last year with some success. In fact all the seed i used for this years outdoor crop came from that indoor crop. The fan of canes are still affixed to the gable end so I will probably try another, less hardy bean on there next year.
                  Just finished shelling the seeds from this years crop ready for next year.
                  My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
                  to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

                  Diversify & prosper


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                  • #10
                    I have grown Fasold' for many years, get a great early crop from April sowing,and from a July sowing, am just picking the last.

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                    • #11
                      Needed to use up some very old Aquilon DFB seeds. They were a Seedy Saturday "prize" and I also wanted to see what they are like. Planted about 15 on July 28 and gaps topped up August 11, I've had a handful up to now, here's this last weekend's haul - about 2lb. There are more to come depending on the weather, I guess. They are absolutely delicious raw or cooked, lovely long thin beans and really tasty so I want to make sure I get some seed as well, now. The poly tunnel is great for this as they are they only variety in there and nothing else is flowering outside.

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                      "A life lived in fear is a life half lived."

                      PS. I just don't have enough time to say hello to everyone as they join so please take this as a delighted to see you here!

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                      • #12
                        French beans are pretty unlikely to cross anyway, marchogaeth so you don't need to worry about that

                        Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.

                        Which one are you and is it how you want to be?

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                        • #13
                          Interesting, Alison. I tend to rely on the real seeds web site and advice and without moving too much (ie not at all!) I have a 4m distance in my head and I know commercially it's a lot further.

                          So how close do you think you can grow them?
                          "A life lived in fear is a life half lived."

                          PS. I just don't have enough time to say hello to everyone as they join so please take this as a delighted to see you here!

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                          • #14
                            I've grown French beans only a few foot apart quite happily and saved the seeds, as Real Seeds say, they don't cross easily

                            Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.

                            Which one are you and is it how you want to be?

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              DFB in pots, then out post-frost is a good idea- just keep them well watered. I grow climbing French beans in the polytunnel. They easily reach 13 feet and crop hugely. The cultivar I have found best is Cobra. I also grow dwarfs, variety Purple Tepee. Runners do not do well in polytunnels, I believe. It's certainly been my experience. They do well outside, even up here. Purple Tepee is easy and does very well in patio pots.
                              Last edited by Berr; 24-10-2014, 10:47 PM.

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