Climbing French Bean Algarve

A vigorous and reliable variety, Algarve is a top performer in any weather. It produces long, flat green beans up to 25cm, completely stringless and full of flavour. The plants can grow up to 2m tall and are impressively productive. With an RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM), this variety proves its worth time and again – hardy, easy to grow, and packed with quality.

To be an AGM winner means that this variety has been outstanding in trials: reliable and with great garden performance

SOW: start these off in pots or modules placed in an unheated greenhouse or even on a window during April or May.  You can sow directly into the soil but wait until mid-May as they really do not like cold soil.  You can sow as late as July for a later harvest.

GROW: plant out after hardening off when about 15cm tall after all frost danger has passed. Algarve will need canes for support as it is a vigorous climber to 2m.  French Beans are self-pollinating.  They cope well with drier summers

ENJOY: the flat pods can grow to 25cm, pick young and cook whole or sliced or leave the pods at the end of the season for drying. They are super in winter casseroles.  All of our French beans freeze well.