Climbing French Bean Cosse Violette

Cosse Violette is a stunning heirloom variety known for its deep purple pods that stand out beautifully against green foliage—making them easy to spot and pick. It’s a vigorous grower and delivers excellent flavour whether you harvest the pods young, use them as flageolets, or dry them at the end of the season. A truly versatile bean that keeps on giving throughout the summer.

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.  Cosse Violette is happy climbing canes in a row or arranged as teepees.  French Beans are self-pollinating.  They also cope well with drier summers

ENJOY: pick young and cook whole or sliced.  Leave the pods for a little longer and shell them for flageolets.  At the end of the season leave the pods for drying; the dried beans are super in winter casseroles.  All of our French beans freeze well.