Veitch's Climbing French Pole Bean, English Victorian Heirloom, 1885

The name Veitch is legendary in the world of plants. This variety was developed and introduced by James Veitch & Sons, the most famous nursery in Great Britain during the 19th century.

• First Availability: Introduced in the early 1890s (specifically appearing in catalogs around 1893), it was bred as a climbing version of the earlier "Veitch’s Forcing" dwarf bean.
• The Royal Warrant: The Veitch family held Royal Warrants and sent plant hunters across the globe. This bean was bred to meet the exacting standards of Victorian estate gardeners who required perfect, uniform pods for the high-society dining tables of London.
• A Survivor: While many Victorian varieties were lost to industrial agriculture, Veitch’s Climbing survived because of its unparalleled flavor and "stringless" quality, which modern commercial varieties often struggle to replicate.

Veitch's Climbing is celebrated for being far more refined than the average pole bean.

• The Pods: It produces long, slender, straight green pods (typically 6–8 inches). They are known for being remarkably smooth and fleshy.
• Stringless Quality: Even as the pods reach full size, they remain tender and snap cleanly without the tough "string" found in many older heirlooms.
• The Flavor: It has a delicate, buttery, and slightly sweet flavor. It is best enjoyed lightly steamed or sautéed with a touch of garlic and sea salt to let its heritage quality shine.
• The Seed: The dried seeds are small and white, which historically made them popular for use in delicate summer soups.

This variety is an excellent choice for gardeners with limited space who want to maximize their harvest per square foot.

Garden Tip: Veitch’s Climbing is slightly more compact than some of the "larger" pole beans. It is perfect for smaller trellises, teepees, or even large containers with a sturdy support.

"Veitch’s Climbing is the 'Little Black Dress' of the bean world. It is elegant, reliable, and never goes out of style. It brings a touch of the English manor garden to your backyard, producing heavy crops of gourmet beans that are virtually stringless."

For the best results, sow seeds after the soil has thoroughly warmed. Because this variety was bred for "forcing" (early production), it is quite productive early in the season. Pick the pods frequently—once a day during peak season—to encourage the plant to continue flowering and producing until the first frost.