GROWING

Plants are bred to be semi-trailing and are ideal for larger patio containers. Fruits can be harvested in about 8 weeks from transplanting. Pick regularly when fruits are 5cm ‘cornichons’ or when they are 10cm long for pickling or salad use.Sow seed 13mm (½in) deep in 7.5cm (3in) pots of good seed compost. Place pots in a propagator or seal in a polythene bag and keep at 21-25?C (70-77?F) until after germination which usually takes 5-7 days. Alternatively, sow seed directly into the soil outside once it has warmed and there is no further risk of frost. Sow at a depth of 2cm (¾in) 75cm (2.5ft) apart and in rows 75cm (2.5ft) apart.Gradually acclimatise plants to outdoor conditions before planting out after last frosts. Leave 75cm (2.5ft) between plants in each direction. Do not remove the male flowers. Best grown outdoors, allow to trail on the ground or plant in larger patio containers. Ensure no ‘all female’ varieties are also being grown so as to avoid cross pollination. Feed with potash fertiliser once fruiting commences.

This ideal lunchbox snack, with optimum flavour, crunchy but juicy picked and eaten straight from the plant. Wash if necessary but no need to peel these 7cm (3in) 'mini munch cukes'. Each plant is prolific fruiting if picked every other day throughout the summer.Sow seed 1cm deep, in 7.5cm (3.5in) pots of free-draining compost. Place in a propagator and keep at a temperature of around 20-25C (68-77F) until after germination, usually 5-7 days.When first true leaves develop, transplant into 13cm (5in) pots. Finally, plant into 25cm (10in) pots or into growbags. Grow on at a minimum of 15C (59F). Train along wire, allowing the main shoot to reach the tip. Pinch out growing point and allow two sideshoots to trail downwards. Keep plants moist at all times and shade if necessary. Keep humidity high and pick fruits regularly.

"Walter the Worm: Mr Skinny can be a little fussy with food but he always eats his vegetables, especially when he grows them himself. He really loves these dwarf beans. Seeing so many beans growing on the plant makes him hungry!Mr. Noisy: think seeing the tasty food you have grown yourself would make anyone hungry. I love trying new fruits and vegetables have helped to grow. These beans are ready earlier than most so I get to eat them from July and they taste so sweet and delicious Just like me they can fit into small spaces, they only grow to 45cm tall, but eating them will help me grow big and strong!"Sow seeds 1cm (½in) deep in small pots of compost on a windowsill.

The world’s first purple podded ‘daisy type’ French bean! This unique variety will certainly add some colour to your vegetable plot - the slender pods are borne on dark stems against a mass of healthy dark green foliage. The bright purple flowers are particularly attractive, making this a superb ornamental-edible for the patio. Harvested regularly, dwarf French bean ‘Mistik’ will crop throughout the summer from June right through to October.SOWING INSTRUCTIONS: Sow bean seeds at a depth of 5cm (2in) in 7.5cm (3in) pots or trays of free-draining, seed sowing compost. Place in a propagator or seal container inside a polythene bag at a temperature of 12-25°C (54-77°F) until germination, which takes 7-10 days. Do not exclude light as this helps germination.GROWING ON: Once germinated, grow on in cooler conditions until all risk of frost has passed and the dwarf French bean plants are large enough to be transplanted. Gradually acclimatise them to outdoor conditions over 7-10 days before planting French beans outdoors in rich fertile, well drained soil in full sun with protection from strong winds. Alternatively direct sow dwarf green beans outdoors when the soil as warmed. Sow 2 bean seeds per station at a depth of 5cm (2in) and a distance of 23cm (9in) apart. Plant dwarf beans in rows that are 45cm (18in) apart.