French bean and spacing trial

Abstract

As part of a regional testing programme, two new rust-resistant varieties of French bean Redlands Belle and Redlands Beauty were compared with recognised commercial varieties in a plant and row spacing trial at the Maroochy Experiment Station. Yields from both new varieties were considerably greater than those of Brown Beauty and comparable with those of St. Andrews. Plant weight at maturity and number of flowers per plant increased with increments in plant spacing within the row from 2 in. up to a maximum of 6 in. Differences in percentage pod set were obtained for varieties but not for plant spacings in and between rows. Maximum pod set occurred in St. Andrews. Weight loss in cased beans during a 6-days storage period was influenced by variety rather than the tightness of pack.