Sowing French Beans - How and when. Advice and Information on Germination

A good crop of French or Dwarf Beans

French beans (Dwarf Beans) are sometimes a little difficult to germinate. Normally, cold and wet soil are the problems. In these conditions the dwarf French bean seeds will more than likely rot, or be attacked by fungal disease.

French beans are best started by sowing in pots - either indoors or in a greenhouse. One per pot is fine - and allow for ten percent failure rate. The French bean seeds should be spread out an a few sheets of damp newspaper for up to twenty four hours - helping them to absorb moisture and swell. Then they can be panted into individual pots

Do NOT plant the young dwarf bean plants out until all frost is over, and make sure that you harden them off gradually before planting out into the garden.