RE: Growing BEANS in the UK????? Haricots or anything else?

Fas as Ive read you can plant most beans in the UK, haricot or otherwise! Some have a problem with black fly, apparently pinching out tips reduces this, and best to start them off in pots as mice, birds, slugs etc all like to eat the tender young shoots! If you are planting out into a bed then can grow in a half guttering pipe and then just slide into final position all at once!
My gardening theory is try it!! If it grows it does., if it doesn't it don't! ;0) IS best way to find what grows in your particular area and soil! Go for it and good luck!
(off to plant my peas and beans now!)
Jo

RE: Growing BEANS in the UK????? Haricots or anything else?

Do runner beans count? They are always too successful!
And I grew broad beans last year, they were a moderate success.

RE: Growing BEANS in the UK????? Haricots or anything else?

I'd meant to reply to this when you first posted, Trin, but got side tracked.

What I wanted to ask you is this: Are you wanting to grow 'green' beans in variety, eg runner, French etc, and harvest to deep freeze?

Or are you asking about ripening/drying the actual beans inside the pods, to then soak and cook as eg the red kidney beans one can buy in health shops and supermarkets?

I've grown runner, French and dwarfbeans when I lived in Essex, but only picked them when very young, small and succulent, and I froze them. I've never tried drying them for the other purpose, but try a search online ... the BBC's gardening website is good, and also try [link= http://www.dobies.co.uk ]www.dobies.co.uk[/link], who aren't a million miles from either of us Excellent firm, I used to buy all my veg. seeds from them, they have a great variety.

Holistic

RE: Growing BEANS in the UK????? Haricots or anything else?

Hi All,

Thank you for the kind input. My garden is well underway now. I searched a little further a field and found that in the UK runner beans actually make great beans for drying and using in pates, soups and other dishes.

I am actually looking at beans to grow to harvest and use as dried beans over the winter when fressher foods tend to be in shorter supply. There is an inkling within in me that is edging towards self sufficiency. We don't have a freezer and I would prefer to not have to rely on one (hence the move towards drying food).

Warm Regards
Trin

RE: Growing BEANS in the UK????? Haricots or anything else?

ORIGINAL: Holistic
... the BBC's gardening website is good, and also try [link= http://www.dobies.co.uk ]www.dobies.co.uk[/link] , who aren't a million miles from either of us Excellent firm, I used to buy all my veg. seeds from them, they have a great variety.

Holistic

Thank you for the link above. It is a great resource indeed!

For anyone interested in drying beans - I recently came across this great resource:

[link= http://www.veganorganic.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27&Itemid=53 ]Guide to growing and drying beans[/link]

Trin

RE: Growing BEANS in the UK????? Haricots or anything else?

You're welcome to links, info etc, and I do take your point about self-sufficiency and not relying on frozen food.

However, when I grew my own vegetables and froze them for all-year-round use ... runner beans, baby carrots, courgettes (the yellow-skinned ones from Dobies that you never see in shops) ... I wasn't especially aiming for self-sufficiency, they just tasted so good! Dinner guests used to ask WHERE I'd bought runner beans in winter, and were very surprised when I said they were home-grown and frozen!

Yes, I know there is always the risk of power cuts and other electrical failures, but my O/H bought an old parafin-fuelled generator which came into its own following the hurricane of 1980? (whichever year poor Michael Fish said not to worry, there wasn't going to be one! :eek:) and I kept three freezers going ... my own chest freezer in the garage (which had enough room for my friend down the road to add her frozen stuff before it thawed out!) , a small one in the house, AND next door's on a 30ft extension cable. A log fire in the inglenook to keep warm ... the central heating was kaput with no electricity.

Now that WAS self-sufficiency!

Holistic

RE: Growing BEANS in the UK????? Haricots or anything else?

Interesting story. It's amazing how things often pull together perfectly during a crisis situation

I think that I fallen back on freezing foods too easily in the past and am enjoying the challenge of finding new ways to preserve food to eat whilst fresh food is a little more sparse in the colder months.

RE: Growing BEANS in the UK????? Haricots or anything else?

Interesting story. It's amazing how things often pull together perfectly during a crisis situation

Yes, it only lasted for a week, til power was restored. The generator could run the television OR the kettle OR every light bulb in the house ORcharge three freezers, but not all together!

Times like that bring it all home just how much of modern living we take for granted

Good luck with the beans.

Holistic

RE: Growing BEANS in the UK????? Haricots or anything else?

Times like that bring it all home just how much of modern living we take for granted

Ah yes... it does help to put things into perspective.

Thank-you for the kind thoughts

Trin