Harvesting beans now!

My climbing beans are just beginning to yield a harvest. The tall poles smothered in red, white and mauve flowers form a striking focal point in my July garden. The foliage of the Runner beans is quite dark green, but that of the Borlotti is a much lighter, almost golden, green.

The pods of the "Selma Zebra" bean are a mottled mix of purple and green.

The Runners are probably my favourite. The long straight pods seem so full of promise!

The climbing French bean "Cobra" is an excellent variety, which I have grown for many years now, and I have never been disappointed. The pods are cylindrical, straight, light green and very long.

This is "Coco Blanc a Rames" (aka "Lazy Housewife"), one that I have not grown before. I'm not sure yet if I will eat the pods young or leave them to be used as shelling beans. I'll probably try a few young ones and make my decision then.

Over on the other side of the garden the Dwarf French beans (in pots) are coming on apace. There are already lots of deep purple flowers on the the "Amethyst" ones.

Whilst "Yin Yang" has bright white flowers.

Further down the "production line" are a couple of pots of "Delinel", which are just producing their first leaves. This variety has very slim pods that are excellent in fine dining dishes. I am growing them in the same pots I used for the new potatoes. As each pot of potatoes has been harvested, I have been putting the compost back into the tub and sowing a few beans. I know the beans would prefer fresh new compost, but I expect I will still get a decent enough yield to make my method worthwhile. I will water the pots with liquid plant food from time to time, so they will not lack nutrients.

I don't expect to be short of beans for the next couple of months!