Maxibel Haricot Vert
Phaseolus vulgaris 'Maxibel'
The ultimate French filet bean prized by gourmet cooks for its incredibly slender, pencil-thin pods and exceptional tenderness. This productive bush variety produces an abundance of extra-fine beans that maintain their delicate texture and vibrant color whether served fresh or lightly cooked. Maxibel represents the pinnacle of fine bean breeding, delivering restaurant-quality haricot verts for the home gardener's table.
Harvest
50-55d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
2–11
USDA hardiness
Difficulty
Moderate
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Maxibel Haricot Vert in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 bean →Zone Map
Click a state to update dates
Maxibel Haricot Vert · Zones 2–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | — | — | June – July | August – October |
| Zone 4 | — | — | June – July | August – October |
| Zone 5 | — | — | May – June | August – September |
| Zone 6 | — | — | May – June | July – September |
| Zone 7 | — | — | April – June | July – August |
| Zone 8 | — | — | April – May | June – August |
| Zone 9 | — | — | March – April | May – July |
| Zone 10 | — | — | February – April | May – June |
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day). Soil: High Organic Matter. Drainage: Good Drainage. Spacing: 6-feet-12 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: 'Rattlesnake'Pole Snap Bean, 'Rattlesnake'. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
The boat-shaped seed pods are bilaterally symmetrical and can be green, yellow, white, or purple at maturity. There is a wide variety of color and shape choices among cultivars.
Color: Gold/Yellow, Green, Purple/Lavender, White. Type: Legume. Length: > 3 inches. Width: < 1 inch.
Garden value: Edible, Good Dried
Harvest time: Fall, Summer
Bloom time: Spring, Summer
Storage & Preservation
Store freshly harvested Maxibel haricot verts unwashed in the refrigerator crisper drawer, loosely wrapped in a perforated plastic bag. These delicate beans maintain peak quality for 4-5 days when kept at 40-45°F with high humidity. Avoid storing at room temperature, as the fine pods quickly lose their prized tenderness.
For freezing, blanch whole pods in boiling water for 2-3 minutes, immediately plunge into ice water, drain thoroughly, and freeze in single layers before transferring to freezer bags. Properly frozen haricot verts retain excellent texture for 8-10 months.
Maxibel's tender pods also excel when pickled using a light vinegar brine with herbs like tarragon or thyme—a traditional French preservation method that maintains their delicate crunch. Due to their fine texture, these beans aren't suitable for pressure canning but work beautifully in refrigerator pickles that last 2-3 weeks.
History & Origin
Origin: Tropical America
Advantages
- +Fast-growing
Considerations
- -Toxic (Seeds): Medium severity
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Marigold
Repels bean beetles, aphids, and nematodes while attracting beneficial insects
Nasturtium
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, repels bean beetles
Carrots
Beans fix nitrogen that carrots use, carrots don't compete for space
Corn
Provides natural trellis support, beans fix nitrogen for corn's benefit
Radishes
Loosen soil for bean roots, mature quickly before beans need full space
Summer Squash
Large leaves provide ground cover and moisture retention, classic three sisters companion
Rosemary
Repels bean beetles and Mexican bean beetles with strong aromatic oils
Lettuce
Benefits from bean's nitrogen fixation, provides living mulch
Keep Apart
Onions
Can inhibit bean growth and nitrogen fixation through allelopathic compounds
Garlic
May stunt bean growth and interfere with beneficial rhizobia bacteria
Sunflowers
Compete heavily for nutrients and water, can shade out beans
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #2346400)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good resistance to common bean mosaic virus
Common Pests
Bean beetles, aphids, thrips, spider mites
Diseases
Bacterial blight, white mold, rust, anthracnose