BEAN - FARADAY

Organic French Dwarf Faraday

    10 Seeds Pack    

Faraday stands out as one of the finest and perhaps the very best new Dwarf French Bean varieties introduced in recent years. Renowned for its exceptional quality, this variety produces perfectly uniform, slim pencil pods measuring 6–8mm in diameter and 13–15cm (5–6 inches) in length. The pods are remarkably straight, tidy, and exhibit an attractive dark-green colour that makes them visually appealing as well as delicious.

One of Faraday's key strengths is its delicate flavour and excellent texture, making it a favourite among both home gardeners and professional growers. Its versatility and reliability shine through in its ability to produce high yields over an extended growing season.

In addition to its exceptional quality and disease resistance, Faraday is an economical option for growers. The variety’s seeds are notably small, allowing for efficient planting and enabling growers to cultivate a large number of plants without requiring excessive seed quantities. 

PLANTING & GROWING

Soak Dwarf French bean seeds for a few hours, preferably overnight, before planting to improve germination. If starting seeds indoors, disinfect all plastic grow trays, seed cells, and tray covers to prevent damping off. These compact plants, which grow to about 60 cm (24 in) tall, do not require staking like runner beans or peas. They are easy to grow, tolerate dry conditions well, and enrich the soil with nitrogen, leaving it in excellent condition after harvesting. French beans are best picked young, with the entire tender green pod cooked and eaten.

Dwarf French beans can also be grown in pots. Choose containers at least 45 cm (18 in) in diameter with adequate drainage holes. Use a mix of equal parts loam-based and loam-free compost. The seeds germinate best at temperatures between 18–25°C and in soil with a pH of 6.0–6.8. Ensure the soil contains sufficient phosphorus and potassium, as beans naturally fix nitrogen. Crop rotation is essential; avoid planting beans or other Fabaceae family members in the same area more than once every three years.

Sow seeds 5–7.5 cm (2–3 in) deep and space them 15–23 cm (6–9 in) apart, depending on the variety. For open ground, space single rows 45 cm (18 in) apart or double rows 23 cm (9 in) apart, with 60 cm (2 ft) between double rows. In raised beds, where walking space isn’t needed, rows can be spaced uniformly at 23 cm (9 in) apart. Water plants frequently, especially when seed pods are setting and swelling, and remove any yellowing leaves to maintain plant health.

Dwarf French beans mature in about 60 days and should be picked daily, early in the morning, for the best flavour. Harvest them before the bean seeds become visible inside the pod. These beans are self-pollinating, meaning they do not rely on bees or other insects for fruit production, although pollinators may visit the flowers for nectar.

Interplanting dwarf beans with potatoes works well, as the beans can be planted along the outside of the rows after the potatoes have been weeded and hilled. As the potato plants die back, the beans help shade and cool the soil. Additionally, planting dwarf French beans near tomatoes can improve air circulation, reducing the risk of disease.

Good Companions: Carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, melons, peas, radishes, turnips, sweetcorn, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, and kale.

Plants to Avoid: Hyssop, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, or turnips.