I love French beans more so than Runner beans, (although I do still grow Runner beans because they are Andy’s favourite). I grow both dwarf and climbing varieties and I also experiment with different colour varieties. I just love the different colour of the vegetables in amongst the green vegetation. They look amazing when they are growing.
I harvest the beans on a regular basis and blanch them before freezing them. My favourite ones are the Purple Tee Pee (Dwarf variety) and Cosse di Violette (Climbing variety). Both are deep purple in colour and produce an abundance of long, shiny pods. They do look dazzling on the plant when they are growing. I just wished that they retained their fantastic colour on the plate. As soon as they hit the boiling water they turn to green!
I also grow dwarf yellow French beans. Although these are not as productive as the green and purple varieties, they just add another colour to my plot.
Happy diggin’
Debb
digginwivdebb 
I have grown these three different colours this year too – also Barlottis – which I prefer to Runner Beans – you should try those too.
I grow those too Jane. Just haven’t harvested any yet hence why they weren’t mentioned in my post 😉
I have just planted my beans! I hope they grow without being eaten first my the snails! I want them to look like yours 🙂
I’m sure with all the sunshine over there yours will be much better than mine 😉
We shall see… I do not trust the snails *steeples fingers and looks narrowly over the top of them*
I planted French beans seeds in my fall garden. So far so good! Love yours and I wish they would stay their pretty colors too.
Absolutely French beans are the way to go. LOve the yellow wax variety in particular
French beans have to be one of my faves.
Our Dwarf French Beans have been one of our favourite crops this year. I look forward to experimenting with some different varieties like yours next year 🙂
The purple ones are really abundant. Worth a try next year.
A great variety of beans. Something to please everyone.
Thanks Jean. I think that I’m going to concentrate more on the purple variety next year though. They were very abundant.
Your beans look like they have been much more successful than mine. Well done. Bean envy!
Thanks for your comment. I love growing the purple ones. They grow well, look great and taste fab!
Will have to give them a go next year. Do you use a trench full of compost and manure?
Yes I do still trench them out as I would do with runner beans. Mainly with well rotted horse manure as I can get it by the sack load for free and I also add the occasional bag of household kitchen waste.
Thanks for the tip. Will definitely give them a go.