Summary: This colorful French variety is versatile as well as delicious. Harvest when young for tasty snap beans or let seeds form until plump for tender shell beans that are used like limas. Bush varieties grow 14-18 in / 36-46 cm tall with pods 5-7 in / 13-18 cm long. Excellent quality fresh or frozen. As beans dry they become attractively mottled with bright rose-red areas.
When and where to plant: Plant seeds in a sunny location when all danger of frost is past. Plant in loose, fertile soil, and keep moist. Successive plantings can be made every 3 weeks.
Care: Plants need plenty of moisture and fertilizer during dry spells. Thin seedlings to 6 in (15 cm) apart.
Harvesting: Cook entire pods like a snap bean when young and still tender. Or shell seeds from older pods and cook like lima beans.
Health Note: Good source of vegetable protein, vitamins and minerals.
| Light |
Seed Depth |
Seed Spacing |
Row Spacing |
Days to Sprout |
Plant Spacing |
Days To
Maturity |
| Full Sun |
1 in / 2.5 cm |
3 in / 7.5 cm |
30 in / 75 cm |
6-18 |
6 in / 15 cm |
60 |