S. Anna is an early climbing French bean with vigorous plants reaching 180 to 190cm. Deep green, pencil-shaped pods that are very meaty, stringless and tender. One of the most productive climbing beans you can grow.
Grow on poles, teepees or netting. Pick the pods regularly when they are about 15cm long for the best flavour and to keep the plants producing. Excellent steamed, sauteed with garlic, or added to a minestrone.
🌱 Sowing depth: about 5 cm
📅 Sow (Ireland): May–late July outdoors once frost risk is over and soil has warmed.
☀️ Light: full sun
🌡️ Germination: typically 7–14 days in warm conditions
📏 Height: approx. 180–190 cm climbing plants
🪴 Spacing: 15–20 cm between plants/supports; 50–60 cm between rows
⏳ Harvest: early variety, usually cropping from around 60–70 days after sowing, then over a long period if picked regularly
🔢 Seeds: approx. 35 g packet, around 100 seeds per pack
When to sow
May to June direct in the ground. French beans do not like cold soil. Wait until the end of May in most of Ireland. Sow 5cm deep, 10cm apart, alongside a cane or trellis.
How to grow
Beans fix their own nitrogen so they do not need feeding. Water regularly once pods start forming. Pick often, even if you do not need all of them. The more you pick, the more the plant produces. Stop picking and the plant stops flowering.
Recipe idea
Green beans with garlic and olive oil. Blanch the beans for three minutes, drain and toss immediately with two crushed garlic cloves and good olive oil. Salt. Done. The whole point of these beans is their flavour, so do not overcook them.
