French Bean Slenderette, is like the name says, a long slender, thin string bean variety. It's also known as Cantare. It's colour is light till bright green and it's flavour is delicious. The beans are allmost stringless and very fleshy. Sow this French Bean in a cold frame under glass for a very early harvest. You don't need to support this variety. It needs a very sunny plot with some shelter. This early variety can be harvested quite early and it has a good resistance against diseases. It can be kept very well in the freezer like all string bean varieties. Blanche them first and then freeze them. Height: 50 - 100 cm.
Indoor sowing: april
Outdoor sowing: middle of may
Germination: 7 - 14 days
Germination temp. .: 18 - 22 °C
Sowing depth: 3 - 4 cm
Plant distance: 20 - 30 cm
Plant distance inbetween rows: 40 cm
Plant position: sunny
Days till harvest: 55 - 65
Sow indoors for an early harvest from april on. Sow in individual pots about 3-4 cm deep and cover the seeds with a thick layer of soil . This variety is a dark germinator. Keep the seeds warm and moist. Don't let the temperature drop during the night. Transplant the seedlings on a sunny sheltered plot with free draining soil, in may when there's no longer any danger of night frosts. Keep approx. 20 - 30 cm apart. Protect the seedlings against snails, slugs and other pests.
Sow outdoors in may. when there's no longer any danger of nightsfrosts. Sow on a sunny plot with some shelter and free draining soil. Cover the seeds with a thick layer of soil. Beans hate cold soil and you need to ensure that the soil is warmed before planting or sowing. Support the plants with sturdy supports. Give the plants a good feed when they're flowering.
