Maxibel Bean is an open-pollinated bush bean that produces long, elegant pods ready to harvest in about 60 days from direct seeding. This filet-type bean grows as a compact bush, making it excellent for containers and small garden spaces while delivering the tender, flavorful pods that define a premium green bean experience. Plant it in full sun with consistently moist soil, spacing plants just 2 inches apart in rows 18 inches wide, and you'll have a steady supply of pencil-thin beans perfect for fresh eating.
2
Full Sun
High
?-?
?in H x ?in W
—
Low
Hover over chart points for details
Long, slender pods that snap cleanly when picked at the right stage set Maxibel apart from standard bush beans. These filet beans are meant to be harvested young and tender, when seeds are still small and the pod is about as thick as a pencil, delivering superior flavor and texture compared to overmature beans. The compact bush habit means you can grow it almost anywhere, and regular harvesting every three to five days keeps plants producing prolifically throughout the season.
Maxibel excels as a fresh-eating green bean, harvested at the immature pod stage when tenderness and flavor are at their peak. The long, elegant pods are ideal for simple preparations that let their quality shine: steamed with a touch of butter, blanched for salads, or sautéed with garlic. Because these filet beans develop tough seeds if left to mature, they are not recommended for freezing or canning; instead, enjoy them fresh within days of harvest for the best eating experience.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Direct sow Maxibel seeds outdoors when daytime soil temperatures average at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit; planting in cooler soil risks poor germination. Optimal soil temperature for germination is 70 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. One ounce of seed plants 12 to 15 row feet. Do not thin seedlings.
Begin harvesting Maxibel about 60 days after direct seeding, approximately two weeks after the first blooms appear. Pick pods when they are nearly full size but still tender, about as thick as a pencil, and seeds are still small and not visibly bulging. Beans are ready when they snap easily when bent; once seeds mature and begin to bulge, the pod becomes tough and loses its appeal. Harvest in the morning for best flavor, and pick at least every three to five days to encourage continued production; you can harvest daily if desired. Regular harvesting keeps plants productive and ensures you catch beans at peak tenderness.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.