French Bean Maxi

French Bean Maxi — variety description

French Bean Maxi (Phaseolus vulgaris) is an annual vegetable of the Legume family (Fabaceae). A medium-green early variety with round oval pods 20 cm long.

Strong and weather-resistant. The beans are held above the plant for easy picking.

You can preserve it, or cook it soon after harvest.

Beans are a good source of vitamin C, folate and iron and are high in fibre.

French beans are easy, quick and very productive — about 55–65 days pass from sowing to first harvest. Dwarf varieties need no support, while climbing ones cover fences and crop for longer.

Key features

• Pack size: 10 g
• Sowing: April and May; direct
• Harvest: July and August
• Position: sunny spot

When to sow French Bean Maxi

French Bean Maxi seeds are sown in April and May. The crop is harvested in July and August. The months are a guide for a temperate climate — in warmer areas sow 1–2 weeks earlier, in cooler or upland areas, later.

How to sow and grow French Bean Maxi

• Sowing method: direct
• Depth: 3–4 cm
• Spacing: 8–10 cm in the row, 40–50 cm between rows (dwarf); 20–25 cm with support (climbing)
• Germination: 6–10 days at 18–25 °C
• Position: sunny spot

Early sowings can be made in a greenhouse at a temperature of 16°C, sowing 3 seeds per 8 cm pot filled with seed compost. Outdoor sowings can be made from May onwards in the growing position at a depth of 5 cm. Sow 2-3 seeds every 20-30 cm. apart, with rows 60 cm apart. apart. The plants are hungry, so the soil should be well prepared and fertilised the previous autumn. Use well-drained, warm soil in full sun. Seedlings sown indoors should be hardened off gradually before planting out in late May at the spacing above, once all risk of frost has passed.

Sow directly when the soil is above 12 °C — in cold soil the seeds rot. Do not feed with nitrogen: beans supply their own. Water during flowering and pod set.

Harvest and use

Pick the pods young and crisp, every 2–3 days — this encourages the plant to set new ones.

Frequently asked questions

When should French Bean Maxi be sown?

The recommended sowing months are April and May. Sowing method: direct.

When are beans sown?

Directly outdoors from late April to July, once the soil has warmed up. For a long harvest, sow in 2–3 batches every 3 weeks.

Do beans need to be soaked before sowing?

Not necessarily; a short soak (2–4 hours) speeds up germination, but a longer one can crack the seeds.