French beans

Also known as kidney, snap or string beans, they are tender annuals with climbing, dwarf or intermediate forms that bear round, flat or curved pods of 7-20 cm long. They may be green, yellow, purple, red or green flecked with purple.

They need optimum growing temperatures of 16-30 Celsius degrees (61-86 F) and will not tolerate temperatures below 10 Celsius degrees (50 F). They are self-pollinated, need a rich, light soil with good drainage to prevent root rot. For best results work plenty of well-rotted compost or manure into the soil before planting and always rotate crops.

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