VegetableBean
Purple French Filet Bean
Purple French Filet Bean is a striking pole bean that climbs to 6-8 feet, producing slender purple snap pods ready to harvest in just 50-59 days. This open-pollinated heirloom thrives across zones 3-9 and earns its place in vegetable gardens for both its stunning appearance and tender, flavorful pods bred specifically for fresh eating. The vining growth habit makes it a natural choice for trellising, where it becomes as ornamental as it is productive.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
3-9
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam
Growth Stats
96 in
Height
TypeVining
Spacing
4
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
3-9
Size
96in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
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Highlights
The purple pods stand out visually in the garden and remain tender and delicate even as they mature, a hallmark of French filet breeding. Its quick turnaround from planting to first harvest means you're picking fresh beans within two months, and the pole habit lets you grow abundantly in a compact vertical footprint. This variety resists Bacterial Blight and Powdery Mildew, making it a reliable performer even in less-than-perfect conditions.
Common Uses
These beans shine when eaten fresh and young, snapped raw into salads or lightly steamed to showcase their tender texture and delicate flavor. The slender pods are ideal for quick-cooking preparations that preserve their crisp snap, and they're equally at home on a crudités platter as they are in a warm vegetable side dish.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds in garden soil after the last frost date when soil temperature reaches at least 60°F. Space seeds 4 inches apart in rows 36 inches apart, planting into full sun locations with well-draining soil.
Harvesting
Harvest pods when they're young and tender, typically 50-59 days after planting, while still snap-able between your fingers and before the beans inside become visibly enlarged. Pick frequently every 2-3 days to encourage continuous production throughout the season. The purple color remains vibrant even when pods are ready to eat, making them easy to spot among the foliage.
Pruning
No pruning is required for this pole bean variety. Simply allow the vines to climb your trellis or support structure naturally. Removing any dead or diseased foliage will improve air circulation and reduce disease pressure.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Phaseolus vulgaris
Family
Fabaceae
Genus
Phaseolus
Growth Habit
Vining
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)VI (I)
History & Origin
“Purple French Filet Bean traces its heritage to European snap bean breeding, developed specifically to deliver the tender, slender pods prized in French cuisine. As an heirloom, open-pollinated variety, it represents a preserved approach to bean cultivation where beans were bred for eating fresh rather than drying. The genetics behind this cultivar reflect generations of selection for pod quality, flavor, and the delicate texture that defines true filet beans.”