Sow bean seeds from April onwards and in a few months time you'll be picking lots of tasty pods. Runners, climbing French and dwarf beans are perfect for a sunny, well-drained spot and can also be grown in pots.
What to do
Prepare planting site by digging over and adding leaf mould or well-rotted manure
Make a parallel support for runner and climbing French beans by making two rows, 60cm (23in) apart. Push canes into the soil, 15cm (6in) apart in the row. Gather tops together and secure with twine to a horizontal cane.
Sow a single bean, 4cm (1.5in) deep in a pot filled with multi-purpose compost. Label, water and put on a windowsill.
After germination, plant out three weeks later, putting a single plant at the base of each cane.
Dwarf French beans don't need supporting, but a few twiggy sticks throughout the crop will hold the lower pods clear of the soil.
Time needed
30 minutes to prepare planting site and make cane support
