THEY are the ideal veg – delicious, ornamental and floriferous. Start sowing dwarf or climbing varieties indoors in April. They are best started off indoors, in two seeds per pot at 5cm (2in) deep, then planted out once they are around 8cm tall, but wait until the last frost has passed. Plant them in final places in early June and support them on bamboo cane wigwams.

Make later sowings directly into the ground . Train the climbing beans up trellises, over arches or along fences to make the most of their beautiful white or lilac flowers.

Good varieties include the dwarf Purple Teepee and Blue Lake, a climber.