Gardening at home with Sarah | Top Seed Sowing Systems at Perch Hill
Sarah discusses the top seed sowing systems used at Perch Hill.
150 seeds 110181 | £4.50 |
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5 seedlings 511608-5 | £5.50 |
Delivery mid April
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When in stock, please allow up to 4-6 weeks for despatch. For fruit & veg bare roots/crowns or potatoes, please allow up to 2 weeks for despatch.
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My favourite of the dwarf green beans. A line of twelve or fifteen plants, will provide delicious, long, but thin, tender beans like the classic French filet bean for a meal two or three times a week. Sow, perhaps alternating with 'Speedy' in April and July for beans right through the summer and autumn. This variety has pretty white, pink or red flowers in the summer months, with a delicious scent.
French beans are almost always best on their own, in splendid isolation or mixed with other things. But, they need to be fresh – you can tell because they smell very clean and will snap in half sharply.
Genus | Phaseolus |
Group/Species | vulgaris |
Variety | Masterpiece Stringless |
Common Name | French Bean, Dwarf French Bean |
Border Position | Kitchen Garden |
Soil Type | Broad Tolerance |
Scent | Scented |
Site | Full Sun |
Moisture | Moist but Well-drained |
Height | 45cm (18in) |
Spacing | 15cm (6in) |
Sowing, Seeds, Planting | Soak seed for half an hour before sowing in succession under cover (ideally in Rootrainers) from mid-April, for planting out from May when seedlings reach 5cm (2in) tall. Direct sow outside, mid-May to July, 5cm (2in) deep in blocks 15cm (6in) apart. |
Care Tips | Protect with fleece if the weather turns cold after planting. Keep plants well-watered, especially during dry spells, a mulch of compost or well-rotted manure will help the soil retain moisture and suppress weed growth. |
Storing | Save the flageolet beans inside to dry and use in stews. These also freeze well. |
Harvesting | From July - October. Best picked often and before you can see the bean seed shape inside, at about 10-12cm in length. This variety produces for a longer period than dwarf varieties. |
Cooking Notes | Do not eat the pods raw, as they contain harmful toxins. To cook, top and tail and place in boiling water, to cook until tender. |
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
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Sarah discusses the top seed sowing systems used at Perch Hill.
The flavour of this is fantastic, with the curry paste freshly made and the veg all roasted before it's dressed in its sauce for extra flavour.
A delicious side dish with chicken, or a delightful lunchbox or picnic treat - this lemon bean salad is light, fresh and zingy.
This is a delicious way to use up a glut of French beans from your vegetable patch, to enjoy throughout the winter and early spring.
Learn how to get great results when direct sowing hardy annual seeds.
Plant Delivery - When in stock, please allow up to 4-6 weeks for despatch. For fruit & veg bare roots/crowns or potatoes, please allow up to 2 weeks for despatch.
Seeds Delivery - When in stock, please allow up to 5 days for despatch.
Click here to find out more information about our delivery rates and times.
Dwarf French Bean 'Masterpiece Stringless' reviews
Reviewed 2nd August 2019 by Annabel
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Reviewed 1st August 2019 by Ms E Vizard-Williams These have produced beans in July and although some of the plants were very slow to come through from seed, the couple of stronger plants have produced a good supply of beans from such small plants - it is surprising! |
Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Diana Very productive.good flavour. |