Peas / Beans easy grow with low light?

Hello GC. I've freed up a length of my veg patch for next year, the new owner of the house behind is putting up a big fence so I don't think the peas and or beans I was planning on putting there will get a lot of light. Could anyone advise what I could do? If I can can't have peas or beans, what can I have?

The Sun will rise on the other side of this incoming 6foot5 fence :( (and then move across the sky behind the huge Leylandii...naturally)

 

Hiya Mr Frost

I have some raised beds, a couple of which aren't ideally situated with regards to light. I've grown Broad Beans there a couple of times, with good results. Of course, your situation might well be worse, but I reckon it's worth giving them a go, if only for future reference. I find salad crops do pretty well there too

 

Thanks Freddy, I suppose it's only going to cost me a couple of quid to find out. I was going to set up some frames(?) with canes for them to climb up. They would be maybe a foot away from the fence.

 

Some Peas grow taller than others, so worth checking. Either way, they'll need support. A lot of folks use 'pea sticks', which basically are just sturdy sticks/twigs. I have only grown peas once or twice, but I got on ok with canes at the end of each row, with string tied between them.

 

Try "Champion of England" & "Ne Plus Ultra." Both heritage varieties that will reach 6 foot or more.

Most of the modern ones have been bred to be low growing, so they can be machine harvested.

 

That's what i was thinking of really. Only just realised some peas or beans don't climb. I need to go and do some reading obviously. oh dear!

 

Thanks for that Zigs, there's tonnes to choose from. Bit daunting really.

 

Could anyone recommend a climbing bean please?

 

No worries

Ne Plus Ultra is the best, means something like look no further

It was thought to be lost until they found an old packet during the Victorian Kitchen Garden series, i've got some seeds decended from that same packet

 

Well I went for 'Monte Cristo' in the end as I have some vouchers/offers for Fothergills and they didn't have the ones Zigs mentioned. I assume I start them off in doors to go out in May time? Just reading up on it now.

 

Hiya.

I got a bit confused as I thought the varieties Zigs suggested were Peas. Anyway, Monte Cristo are basically a climbing French Bean and will be quite tender. In your location, I'd be thinking in terms of planting out first week in June after careful 'hardening off'. If you're prepared to give them some protection, you could plant out earlier. Personally, I think it's better to wait until conditions are more favourable.