It is an upright filet bush bean approximately 50–60 cm tall. It does not form the long twining stems of a pole bean and therefore needs no trellis. In a very windy site or container, a small circular support may simply prevent loaded branches from bending. Still leave enough space for foliage to dry quickly after rain and long pods to remain easy to see.
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French filet green bush bean
Fabaceae
Organic bush-bean seeds
Organic ‘Maxibel’ filet bush bean (Phaseolus vulgaris ‘Maxibel’)
Phaseolus vulgaris ‘Maxibel’
‘Maxibel’ is a filet bush bean producing straight, very slender, dark-green, stringless pods approximately 18 cm long. Upright 50–60 cm plants offer extended pod set and generally begin producing in 50–55 days. Picked young and frequently, pods remain firm, tender, and flavourful. Cornell lists resistance to anthracnose and bean common mosaic virus.
Quantity
Approximately 50 seeds
Exposure
Full sun
Difficulty level
Easy
Discover the plant
Family
Fabaceae
Genus
Phaseolus
Species
vulgaris
Cultivar
Maxibel
Type
French filet green bush bean
Cycle
Warm-season annual
Organic ‘Maxibel’ filet bush bean (Phaseolus vulgaris ‘Maxibel’) is a French filet bush variety known for long, straight, slender, dark-green, stringless pods. Pods reach approximately 18 cm while retaining a firm delicate texture when harvested before seed swelling. Upright 50–60 cm plants carry an abundant extended crop that is easy to see and pick. Its fine flavour suits steaming, stir-fries, warm salads, freezing after blanching, and canning from a tested recipe.
Direct-sow after all frost risk once soil has warmed to at least 16–18°C, 2.5–3 cm deep. Plant in full sun, spacing seed 8–10 cm apart in rows 45–60 cm apart. Soil should be loose, well drained, and moderately fertile because excess nitrogen promotes leaves at the expense of blossoms and pods. Maintain steady moisture especially during flowering and pod fill, while allowing the surface to breathe between waterings. Bush habit normally requires no trellis; sow every two or three weeks to extend harvest.
First harvest generally begins approximately 50 to 55 days after sowing depending on temperature and desired stage. Inspect plants every day or two and pick smooth snappy pods before they become bumpy. Regular picking encourages new blossom formation and takes advantage of ‘Maxibel’s characteristic extended pod set. Cornell lists resistance to anthracnose and bean common mosaic virus; resistance does not mean immunity. Crop rotation, good airflow, and watering at soil level remain essential.
Planting guide
From planting to establishment.
Planting depth
Approximately 2.5 to 3 cm (1 to 1 1/4 in)
Spacing / density
Approximately 8 to 10 cm (3 to 4 in) between plants and 45 to 60 cm (18 to 24 in) between rows
Establishment temperature
Approximately 18 to 29°C
Establishment time
Approximately 6 to 12 days
Best planting time
One to two weeks after final frost once soil reaches at least 16–18°C; repeat through midsummer
Propagation
Direct sowing only after soil warms
Growing method
One to two weeks after final frost, direct-sow 2.5–3 cm deep in soil at least 16–18°C. Space 8–10 cm apart with 45–60 cm between rows; do not transplant. Keep moist until emergence, then mulch once soil is warm. Water at the base during bloom without excess nitrogen. Sow another row two or three weeks later. From 50–54 days, pick smooth green pods every day or two while supporting branches.
Soil and care
The right conditions.
Exposure
Full sun
Soil pH
Approximately 6.0 to 7.0
Minimum temperature
10°C (50°F)
Watering
Keep the furrow evenly moist until emergence without waterlogging large seed that rots readily in cold soil. Once established, irrigate deeply when the top 3–5 cm begins drying, generally aiming for 25–35 mm weekly according to rain and heat. Flowering and pod filling are the most sensitive stages: prolonged drought aborts blossoms and makes pods fibrous. Water at the base in the morning without wetting foliage, then mulch 5–8 cm after soil warms. Avoid alternating saturation and drought plus every instance of standing water at the crown.
Soil type
Prepare loose light-to-loamy very well-drained soil. Beans form roots sensitive to compaction and oxygen deprivation, so loosen the bed without incorporating fresh manure. Moderate mature compost improves structure and water retention, but excessively nitrogen-rich soil favours leaves over pods. Aim for approximate pH 6.0 to 7.0. In heavy clay, grow on a raised bed; in sand, increase organic matter and mulch after warming. Avoid returning beans or peas to the same site for three or four years after significant disease.
Fertilization
Work only a moderate amount of mature compost into the bed before sowing. In balanced soil, bush beans require little nitrogen fertilizer because roots may form nodules with compatible bacteria. If testing identifies deficiency, apply low-rate balanced fertilizer at planting according to label directions; afterwards avoid nitrogen-rich feeding that creates many leaves and few blossoms. Correct phosphorus, potassium, or micronutrients only from soil evidence. Never place concentrated fertilizer against seed or crowns. After several container harvests, one very dilute liquid feeding may support the final bloom.
Seasonal care
In spring, wait for warm soil, direct-sow, and temporarily protect seedlings from birds or slugs. Weed shallowly before roots fill the space. During summer, mulch, water at the base, and inspect leaf undersides for aphids and beetle eggs. Pick every day or two without handling wet foliage to limit disease spread. After final harvest, remove diseased plants; healthy plants may be composted. Rotate the site with non-legume crops.
Container growing
A controlled environment.
Recommended pot size
At least 30 L and 30 cm (12 in) deep for three or four plants
Grow three or four plants in a stable container of at least 30 L and 30 cm deep with several drainage holes. Use loose compost-containing potting mix, space seed approximately 10 cm apart, and place in full sun. No trellis is normally needed, although a small stake ring may prevent loaded branches from bending. Check moisture daily during bloom, water to drainage, and empty the saucer. Harvest frequently. A smaller pot dries too quickly and restricts pod number.
Bloom and dimensions
The complete profile.
Flower color
White
Foliage color
Green
Foliage type
Trifoliate leaves on bushy branches
Growth rate
Fast
Bloom period
Small white to whitish flowers preceding pods
Fruiting
Extended pod set; stringless pods approximately 18 cm long
Harvest
Begin checking at approximately 50 days and expect first harvest in 50–55 days. Pick pods when approximately 18 cm long, dark green, smooth, firm, and snappy before seeds form bumps. Harvest every day or two because a filet pod quickly loses delicacy when oversized. Support the branch while picking to protect new blossoms. Refrigerate unwashed pods in a perforated bag and use within five to seven days, or blanch before freezing.
Garden associations
What to plant with it.
Good companions
Summer savory, carrot, cabbage, cucumber, radish, and nasturtium may share the garden when space and water remain sufficient
Avoid planting with
Mainly avoid short rotation with beans and peas; absolute incompatibility with Alliums is not sufficiently confirmed
Young pods steamed, sautéed, roasted, in salad, frozen after blanching, or canned from a tested recipe
From the garden to inspiration.
Lemon ‘Maxibel’ filet beans — Wash and trim 500 g sound young pods. Steam 5 to 7 minutes until tender but still crisp. Melt 15 ml butter or heat the same amount of oil, add beans, and sauté for two minutes. Finish with lemon zest and juice, parsley, pepper, and a small pinch of salt. Serve immediately. Refrigerate leftovers within two hours and always cook beans before eating.
Frequently asked questions
Everything toknow.
Pick at approximately 18 cm while pods remain very slender, smooth, dark green, and snappy. Seeds should remain barely visible through the wall. Check every day or two beginning around 50 days because filet grade becomes coarser when pods remain too long. Regular picking improves texture and encourages new blossoms; also remove missed pods so the plant does not devote all its energy to seed.
Cornell lists ‘Maxibel’ among filet beans resistant to anthracnose and bean common mosaic virus, including race 1 in its detailed table. Varietal resistance reduces risk or severity under some conditions but does not make the plant immune. Rotate for three to four years, avoid working wet foliage, water at soil level, and remove infected debris. Do not attribute resistance to other diseases without precise documentation.
Sow small amounts every two or three weeks while enough warm weather remains before frost. Once production begins, inspect plants every day or two and remove all ready pods because ripening seed slows new blossom formation. Maintain even moisture during flowering, mulch after soil warms, and avoid excessive nitrogen. As the first row declines, the next gradually takes over.
Yes. Use a stable container at least 30 cm deep with several drainage holes and allow approximately 20–25 cm of usable diameter per plant. Fill with light potting mix enriched with mature compost, place in full sun, and water once the top few centimetres begin to dry. Containers dry faster than garden beds, so check daily during flowering and pod formation without allowing water to stand in a saucer.
Its strengths, naturally.
Attracts or supports pollinating insects
Pollinators
