Damon Mcknight
French beans, also known as green beans, snap beans, or string beans, are a great choice for beginner gardeners in Australia as they are easy to grow and produce large harvests. They can be grown in pots or garden beds and there are two main types: climbing beans and dwarf or bush beans. Climbing beans, such as the Stringless Blue Lake and Purple King varieties, require tall supports to climb up, while bush beans like the Dwarf Hawkesbury Wonder are compact plants perfect for small spaces. French beans need warm, sunny growing conditions with well-drained soil and should be sown in late spring or summer. They grow well from seeds, which should be planted in moist soil and kept well-watered, especially once they start flowering. With their crisp, juicy flesh and slightly sweet taste, French beans are a delicious and rewarding addition to any Australian garden.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Types of Beans | French Beans, Green Beans, Scarlet Beans, Runner Beans, Broad Beans, Dwarf Beans, Climbing Beans |
| Dwarf Beans | Compact varieties like Heirloom Dwarf Brown Beauty, Dwarf Hawkesbury Wonder, Dwarf Borlotti, Dwarf Snake Beans |
| Climbing Beans | Stringless Blue Lake, Purple King, Scarlet Runner Beans, Yellow Podded Butter Beans |
| Growing Conditions | Well-drained soil, full sun, warm soil temperatures (above 16-20°C), avoid soggy or wet roots |
| Sowing Time | Spring to mid-late summer, avoid frost |
| Harvest Time | 10-14 weeks, pick when young, tender and tasty |
| Pests and Diseases | Halo blight (fungal infection) |
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What You'll Learn
French beans are easy to grow in Australia
When growing French beans, it is important to choose a warm and sunny spot with well-drained soil. The soil should be enriched with compost, decomposed manure, or other organic matter. Aim for a soil pH level between 6 and 7. Before planting, weed the area thoroughly and add garden compost or well-rotted manure to improve moisture retention in the soil. French beans also require full sun, although temporary shade should be provided in super-hot, dry, and windy weather.
French beans come in two types: climbing and dwarf. Climbing French beans, also known as pole beans, need room to grow up a trellis or support. Popular choices for support include bamboo canes, hazel poles, or circular wigwams. Dwarf French beans, also called bush beans, are compact varieties perfect for small spaces and large pots.
French beans are typically grown from seeds, which can be purchased from most garden centres or online. Seeds should be sown into damp, not soaking, soil and left for a few days. It is recommended to sow French beans in late spring or summer, and they usually take 12-14 weeks to grow, depending on the variety. To promote flowering and pod production, apply a high-potassium fertiliser.
French beans are generally low-maintenance and produce large harvests with little fuss. They suffer from few pests and diseases, and regular harvesting will ensure a good yield over a long season. Simply pick the bean pods when they are young, tender, and firm to the touch.
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Choose the right bean variety
French beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) are an easy-to-grow crop, ideal for every size of garden, with both climbing and dwarf types to choose from.
Climbing French beans need tall supports to climb up, and these are best put in place before sowing or planting. Popular choices include a double row of bamboo canes or hazel poles tied at the top or middle, or circular wigwams. You could also get creative and construct an archway over a path, or grow the beans up a trellis, netting, or other tall structures.
If you're short on space, look for compact varieties of 'bush' beans, such as Heirloom Dwarf Brown Beauty, Dwarf Hawkesbury Wonder, or the yellow wax bean Dwarf Bountiful Butter. They're compact plants that are perfect for small garden spaces and large pots. For a bit of colour, try Dwarf Borlotti. The cream and red speckled pods can be eaten fresh when young or left on the plant for seeds to mature, then use the dry beans for cooking.
French beans can be sown outdoors once all risk of frost has passed and the soil is warming up—usually in late May or early June, depending on your local climate. The best time to plant beans will vary slightly based on your local climate. In temperate and cool regions, beans can be sown from spring through to mid-late summer. In tropical and subtropical climates, most dwarf and climbing beans can be sown all year round but do best when sown in the cooler months of the year to avoid the worst of the summer heat.
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Prepare the soil
French beans are easy to grow and produce a generous crop with little fuss. They can be grown in both pots and garden beds, making them perfect for all garden sizes.
When preparing the soil, it's important to choose a warm, sunny spot that receives full sun (at least 6 hours a day) and has well-drained soil. Beans do not tolerate soggy or wet roots, so ensure the soil is moist but not soaking wet. Aim for a soil pH level between 6 and 7.
Before sowing, improve the soil by adding a rich source of organic matter such as compost, decomposed manure, blood and bone, or a specialised fertiliser. Avoid using too much fertiliser, as beans dislike this. If you're practising no-dig gardening, you can mulch the soil ahead of sowing or plant directly into the mulch. Beans are legumes, so they have a relationship with nitrifying soil bacteria that helps fix atmospheric nitrogen and return it to the soil.
For climbing French beans, tall supports should be put in place before sowing or planting. Popular choices include bamboo canes, hazel poles, or circular wigwams. You can also construct an archway, trellis, or other tall structures for the beans to climb.
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Planting and germination
French beans are easy to grow and produce a large harvest in proportion to the space they occupy. They are a good option for beginner gardeners. They can be grown in both pots and garden beds, and there are two main types: dwarf or climbing. Dwarf beans are also called bush beans and do not require staking, while climbing beans are also referred to as pole beans.
French beans can be sown either indoors or outdoors. Sowing indoors usually produces better germination rates and keeps them out of reach of slugs and snails. Use small pots or trays of deep modules filled with moist peat-free multi-purpose compost. Sow one bean in each, 5cm deep. Place in a propagator or on a warm, sunny windowsill to germinate. Young plants can be moved outside once the risk of frost has passed, usually in late May or early June.
To sow French beans outdoors, wait until the soil is warming up in late May or early June, depending on your local climate. The soil temperature should be consistently above 20°C and between 16°C and 30°C for beans to germinate. Choose a warm, sunny growing site with well-drained soil. Weed the area thoroughly, then fork in plenty of homemade garden compost or well-rotted manure – at least two bucketfuls per square metre/yard – to improve moisture retention in the soil. Alternatively, if you're practising no-dig, mulch the soil ahead of sowing or planting directly into the mulch.
For climbing French beans, put tall supports in place before sowing or planting. Popular choices include a double row of bamboo canes or hazel poles tied at the top or middle, or circular wigwams. You could also construct an archway over a path, or grow the beans up netting, trellis or other tall structures. For dwarf beans, insert short twiggy sticks between the plants to keep them upright and lift the pods off the soil.
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Harvesting
French beans are easy to grow and produce a generous crop with little fuss. They can be grown in both pots and garden beds, making them perfect for all garden sizes.
French beans are usually ready to harvest within 10 to 14 weeks of planting, depending on the variety. Dwarf varieties are usually ready within 10 weeks. The pods should be picked when they are young, tender, and at their most flavoursome. You should aim to pick the beans before the seeds have swollen and made the pod lumpy. The pods should be firm to the touch, but still lean. If the pods are left to grow too big, they will become stringy and tough.
To test if your beans are ready, bend them in half. If they are ready for harvest, they should make a "'snap' noise as they break". You can also open a pod and check the size of the beans inside against the target size for the variety you are growing.
Harvest manageable numbers of beans regularly to promote more flowering and increase the yield. Picking beans frequently will also ensure a good yield over a long season.
Climbing beans generally take slightly longer to grow than dwarf varieties and will have a later and longer harvest season. If you live in a cooler part of Australia, you might want to grow dwarf snake beans, which are longer and more chewy than French beans, but very delicious.
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Frequently asked questions
French beans can be grown in Australia in two types: dwarf or climbing. Dwarf beans are also called bush beans and do not require staking. Climbing beans, also known as pole beans, need room to grow up a trellis or support.
French beans can be grown in Australia all year round, but the best time to plant them depends on your local climate. In tropical and subtropical climates, French beans can be sown all year round but do best when sown in the cooler months. In temperate and cool regions, they can be sown from spring through to mid-late summer.
French beans can be grown in the ground or in containers in a warm, sunny spot. Climbing beans need tall supports to climb up, such as a trellis or fence lines. Dwarf beans can be grown in compact varieties in small spaces and large pots.
French beans are quick to grow and can be harvested in 10-14 weeks, depending on the variety. Dwarf beans are faster to grow and can be harvested in as little as 10 weeks.
