Fothergill's Dwarf Bean Purple Queen Seeds

Details:

• Botanical Name: Phaseolus vulgaris 'Purple Queen', a premium, highly ornamental color-selected dwarf French bean selection.
• Plant Class: Half Hardy Annual, establishing with exceptional speed and stamina to deliver a high-volume, continuous summer harvest.
• Gourmet Purple Pods: Bears an abundance of long, smooth, and entirely stringless round pods in a deep, glossy purple hue. The flesh is remarkably tender, crisp, and packed with a rich, traditional bean flavor widely considered superior to standard green varieties.
• The Cooking Magic: A fascinating novelty in the kitchen; the striking purple pods undergo a dramatic color transformation when heated, turning a vibrant, appetizing dark green when lightly steamed or boiled.
• Compact Dwarf Bush Habit: Naturally forms a neat, sturdy, and robust bush framework reaching a mature height of roughly 45–50cm. Because it requires absolutely no tall climbing poles, canes, or netting, it is an elite choice for smaller gardens, allotment foregrounds, raised beds, or large patio pots.
• Built-In Disease Resistance: Bred with advanced modern genetics to feature excellent natural protection against Bean Common Mosaic Virus (BCMV) and Anthracnose, ensuring the foliage stays healthy and productive deep into the season.
• Nutritional Powerhouse: A highly rewarding, health-boosting crop for home growers, serving as an excellent natural source of dietary fiber, Vitamin A, and Vitamin C.
• Optimal Position: Thrives at its absolute best when positioned in Full Sun in a warm, sheltered spot with fertile, moisture-retentive, well-drained soil. (Please note: While basic data charts sometimes list "full shade," French beans are sun-lovers that fundamentally require bright sunlight and warmth to grow vigorously, flower, and set pods successfully).

Care Instructions:

• Sowing Position: Start seeds early indoors from April to May for the surest, earliest results. Sow individual seeds 2.5–5cm deep into small pots or deep module trays of moist compost and place them on a warm, bright windowsill (18–22°C is ideal for fast germination). Alternatively, sow directly outdoors from May to July once the soil has warmed and all danger of frost has safely passed.
• Planting Out & Spacing: Gradually accustom indoor-raised plants to outdoor conditions over 7–10 days before planting out into their final positions when the spring frosts are completely over. Space individual plants 15–20cm apart, leaving 40–45cm between rows. Growing them in close blocks allows the dense bushes to lean on and support one another.
• Moisture & Pod Setting: Keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged. Beans require plenty of water once they begin flowering. In exceptionally hot, dry summer weather, gently misting the open pink blossoms with tepid water in the evening will dramatically assist pollination and help the pods set.
• Harvesting Tip: Harvest the pods frequently when they are young, crisp, and roughly 15cm long before the seeds inside begin to swell. Regular picking is vital, as it prevents the plant from shutting down to set seed, forcing it to continuously produce fresh flowers and an ongoing supply of delicious purple beans until October.