How to grow beans for drying

With beans grown for drying, the pods are allowed to fully ripen and dry out on the plant, then the beans can be stored for use over winter in stews, soups, casseroles and salads. Borlotti beans are a popular choice, and some runner and French beans can also be grown this way. 

Start harvesting mature beans from mid-summer onwards, once the pods dry out

Most beans grown for drying are climbers, as these are more productive. Dwarf varieties can be used too, but produce smaller crops. They also don’t dry as well on the plant, as the pods often touch the ground, where they can get damp and rot, so dwarf varieties are best picked and dried indoors.

Borlotti beans are the best-known beans for drying, but most runner and French beans can be grown in this way, although certain varieties are particularly suitable. Different varieties produce dried beans of various colours, including white, brown and purple. Other beans specifically for drying include the striking black and white ‘Yin Yang’ beans. You’ll find an array of different beans growing in the veg areas of the RHS gardens over the summer months, so do visit to compare varieties and pick up growing tips.

Choose a warm, open, sunny growing site, ideally with light, free-draining soil. Weed thoroughly, then fork in lots of home-made garden compost or well-rotted manure – at least two bucketfuls per square metre/yard. Ideally do this a few weeks ahead of sowing or planting out, to allow the ground to settle. Alternatively, if you're practising no-dig,

Mulch is a layer of material, at least 5cm (2in) thick, applied to the soil surface in late autumn to late winter (Nov-Feb). It is used to provide frost protection, improve plant growth by adding nutrients or increasing organic matter content, reducing water loss from the soil, for decorative purposes and suppressing weeds. Examples include well-rotted garden compost and manure, chipped bark, gravel, grit and slate chippings.

When growing beans for drying, rather than for eating the young pods, a longer

The period of time when an individual plant is in active growth. This will depend on the local climate and light levels, and can vary between different plants, although it is broadly from spring to autumn.

Tie in any stems that come loose from the supports in windy weather. Once the plants reach the top of their supports, cut off any additional growth. This should encourage side-shoots lower down, keep the crop within reach and help to stop the plants becoming top-heavy.

Once you’ve gathered in your pods, remove the individual beans and let them dry fully before storing

Once harvesting has finished, cut plants down to the base and

Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost: • Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers - a wide range of commercially produced peat-free composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, composted bark, coir and sand, although you can mix your own.

These beans are easy to grow from seed, but must be kept indoors until after the last frost. If a late cold snap is forecast, cover your plants overnight with cloches or plastic-free fleece. Young plants are vulnerable to slugs and snails, and watch for black aphids on the shoot tips and under leaves. For more on spotting and tackling these and other issues, see Common problems, below.