When to sow Borlotti Bean (For Drying) in the UK
Borlotti Bean (For Drying) is frost-tender, so the right week to sow it depends on where in the UK you garden.
Sowing and harvest dates by region
Borlotti Bean (For Drying) is frost-tender, so its timings shift across the UK. Plot works them out from the Midlands and Lowland Wales baseline using Met Office average frost dates.
| Where you are | Sow indoors | Sow outdoors | Plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South West Coast and Cornwall | early March to early April | mid April to late May | mid April to early May | early July to late September |
| South Coast and Channel | mid March to mid April | mid April to late May | mid April to mid May | mid July to early October |
| Greater London (Urban Heat Island) | early March to early April | mid April to late May | mid April to early May | early July to late September |
| South East and Home Counties | late March to late April | early May to mid June | early May to late May | late July to mid October |
| East Anglia | early April to early May | early May to mid June | early May to early June | early August to late October |
| Midlands and Lowland Wales | mid April to early May | mid May to late June | mid May to mid June | early August to late October |
| Wales and West Coast | late March to late April | early May to mid June | early May to late May | late July to mid October |
| Northern England | mid April to mid May | late May to early July | late May to mid June | mid August to early November |
| Scotland Lowlands and Central Belt | late April to late May | late May to mid July | late May to late June | late August to mid November |
| Scotland Highlands and Islands | mid May to mid June | mid June to early August | mid June to mid July | mid September to early December |
| Northern Ireland | early April to early May | early May to mid June | early May to early June | early August to late October |
| Channel Islands and Isle of Man | late February to late March | early April to mid May | early April to early May | late June to mid September |
Growing notes
Grown like a climbing French bean but left to ripen fully so the beans can be dried and stored, so sow as early as the frost allows - April indoors, May or June outside - to give the pods time to mature. Pods ripen from August; if autumn turns wet, pull the plants and finish drying them under cover.
At a glance
- Spacing
- 30 cm between plants
- Row spacing
- 50 cm
- Plants per m²
- 6
- Days to maturity
- 120 days
- Yield per plant
- 0.3 kg
- Sun
- Full
- Frost tender
- Yes
- Grows in a container
- Yes, 40 litres or more
- Minimum soil depth
- 30 cm
- Balcony rating
- 2 out of 5
What usually goes wrong
- pods rotting in a wet autumn
- black bean aphid
- bean rust
- slugs
Companion planting
Grows well near
Keep away from
Related guides
Timings cross-checked against RHS guidance for borlotti bean (for drying).