Prolific home-grown French beans can save you money, says Jack Wallington

When I first started my allotment I was taken aback by the volume of French beans produced by a small number of plants around one wigwam. I’d pick them all but, as if by magic, only days later the attractive vines were laden again, going on all summer.

Between two of us we had more beans than we could eat. I turned to social media (which stared back awkwardly) and declared my love for French beans. I would never buy a bean again.

Being tender, French beans are typically sown from mid-April undercover; they need some frost protection for maximum growing time, but as they are such fast growers you can sow outside now, or buy plug plants. There are lots of varieties: ‘Cobra’ from thompson-morgan.com is great, although I’m now growing ‘Mamba’ for reportedly double the yield. Surely there will be more beans than plant.

While they can be sown in the ground (2in/5cm deep, 10in/25cm apart), I find they are more reliably started in 3in (8cm) pots of compost, then planted out as strong plants with four to six leaves. Incorporate a bucket of compost or manure into the soil for lots of nutrients, feeding regularly with liquid seaweed. Initially, tie each plant to a 7ft/2m cane until they twine themselves. Plant in rows if you have lots of plants. Water regularly, adding a layer of compost in midsummer to lock in moisture.

Dwarf varieties are great for pots and small spaces. I’ve grown ‘Amethyst’ as an ornamental edible in my flower beds: the leaves and purple pods look very tropical. This year I’m growing ‘Purple Queen’ (suttons.co.uk) in a row on my allotment. With supermarket beans being so dry and leathery, it was another big surprise how succulent they are fresh from the plant. Try for yourself.

Find Jack’s blog at jackwallington.com. Follow him on Twitter @jackwallington and Instagram @jackjjw