Climbing Bean Epicure is an old favourite with tasty and stringless beans when picked young. Producing heavy crops over a long period and sets well in cooler climates. Premium in flavour and excellent for the home gardener. Also called Kentucky Wonder Brown.
Plant Height: 1.8-2m
Sow climbing bean epicure seeds 25mm deep in dark, damp soil - avoid watering for a day or two afterwards. Sow 10-15cm apart, allowing 50-60cm between rows. Ensure the danger of frosts has passed and protect climbing bean plants from winds. Plant in 1-3m rows and remove weeds regularly.
Keep the roots cool - a mulch of garden compost will help considerably. Water well in dry weather.
If grown as pole beans, support with canes, netting or bean frames. Grown as ground beans they don't require any support, but their size should be contained regularly by pinching out growing tips when shoots are 20-30cm long.
Additional fertilising is not required as legumes produce their own nitrogen.
Beans are best picked when young before they become lumpy. For a stringless bean; ensure beans are harvested whilst young. Regular harvesting will produce more beans.
Temperature fluctuations and humidity may results in blossom drop or failure to set pods.