It’s really hard to beat beans for their good looks and outstanding yields. Benedict Vanheems offers some pointers to pack in the pods this summer

Beans, beans, good for your heart. The more you eat them, the more you’re smart.

Well, that’s my version of the infamous rhyme. And that’s because beans really are the clever choice for so many reasons, most notably as a fantastic source of plant protein and a host of vitamins, minerals and fibre. In short, they’re terribly good for us, and regular portions of these loaded legumes won’t necessarily increase your windiness but certainly will leave you feeling on top form.

One benefit that will blow you away, however, is the sheer bounty of this powerfully prolific vegetable. No other crop encapsulates the abundance of summer like the climbing bean. Once the pods start coming, they’ll keep on coming… and coming and coming! Which is why I reckon we all need to include them on our summer plots.

SIGN OF THE VINES

There are two main types of climbing or vining beans we can grow: French beans and runner beans. Both are stellar performers, though with subtle differences.

Runner beans, with their long, flat pods, have a super-fresh flavour and a slightly more pronounced but by no means unpleasant texture. I happen to think their flowers offer stunning impact too, making runner beans a decorative addition to the garden, particularly with the vertical interest they offer. Runner beans are the go-to choice for allotmenteers, being slightly hardier and generally cropping over the longest period, so long as you keep picking them that is. The beans – picked on the younger side then pushed through a bean slicer to serve lightly steamed with a knob of butter – are, in my opinion, divine.

French beans have a slightly finer flavour and more delicate texture with less risk of stringiness, lending them their alternative name of ‘fine beans’. They are very tender but, on the flipside, take hot weather in their stride. Many beans grown for shelling, such as the beautifully blotched borlotti beans, are in fact French beans, and pods come with a striking wardrobe of colours, including yellow, purple, speckled and, of course, plain old green.