Varieties
Climbing
New varieties of most vegetables are regularly introduced to the market. Check with your seed supplier for varieties best suited to your area and market.
The traditional local variety is Westralia, which is flat-podded and slightly stringed. It is tolerant to rust and mosaic virus. In recent years, production of Kentucky Blue has increased markedly, especially from Carnarvon. This is a high yielding, stringless, bean, with pods which are slightly more rounded than Westralia.
Blue Lake is a high yielding stringless variety with a roundish pod and is grown only in small areas. It needs more picking than Westralia as it has a smaller pod. It is susceptible to summer death and rust diseases. Storage life is good.
Dwarf
Most dwarf varieties are green, stringless, white-seeded and round-podded, with resistance or tolerance to rust and summer death. Jade is a popular variety, but check with your supplier as new dwarf varieties are common.
Seed
Growers normally purchase seed from local suppliers. Growers may also keep their own seed by collecting seeds from the highest yielding, true-to-type plants.
Collect seeds after the pods have dried on the plants. Further drying is required for two weeks inside a warm shed. Store seed in an airtight container in a cool place and keep a watch for weevils. Seed kept in good conditions will last for up to three years. Just before planting, dust seed with thiram (Thiram®) to prevent rotting.