Dwarf French bean Phaseolus vulgaris "Saxa" seeds, Agronom 10 g

• Type: annual dwarf (bush) French bean, very early
• Botanical name: Phaseolus vulgaris
• Sowing time: late May – early June, outdoors 3–4 cm deep
• Germination: in 7–10 days with soil at +12 °C or more (species data)
• Harvest: bright green, round pods 12–13 cm; July–August
• Spacing: 40–50 × 5–10 cm; plant height 40–50 cm
• Light and soil: full sun; light to medium warm soil, sheltered from wind
• Size: 10 g packet (about 30–50 seeds)

Planting. Beans need warmth: sow outdoors in late May or early June, once frosts are over and the soil has reached +12 °C. Sow 3–4 cm deep, rows 40–50 cm apart, 5–10 cm between seeds. Soaking the seed for a few hours before sowing speeds things up.

Watering and feeding. Water moderately until flowering, then regularly while pods form – never let the soil dry out. Beans fix their own nitrogen, so no nitrogen fertiliser is needed; on poor soil a little wood ash or a potassium–phosphorus feed is enough.

Care. Hoe between rows and earth up the plants lightly at 10–15 cm so they do not flop. Pick pods young, every 2–3 days – frequent picking keeps plants cropping. If temperatures drop below +10 °C, cover with fleece.

Gardener's tip. For an extra-early crop, sow some seeds in pots in mid-May and plant out after the frosts – 'Saxa' will give pods by early July.