French Beans A practical slim podded variety, favoured by gourmet restaurants because they are the tasty, tender and needs no slicing and other preparations, hence there is no loss of flavour. Beans can be picked at 9cm, 4in in bunches, but can be left to grow to attain maturity at 15-18cm 6-7in when it will still be stringless and relatively slender approx. 5/16 to 3/8in thick in comparison with most varieties. It is alwyas best to pick pods on the young side when flavour and tenderness are at their best.