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French Pole Bean Melissa - Vilmorin Seeds

Phaseolus vulgaris Melissa
Pole Bean

4,8/5
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Very good bean, early high yield and stringless. I recommend it. Regards

Michel, 31/08/2022

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This plant carries a 6 months recovery warranty

More information

Value-for-money
'Melissa' is a popular French filet type climbing variety. It produces straight, round, stringless dark purple pods that measure up to 30 cm in length. The fine-flavoured, tender beans are perfect in summer salads or lightly cooked. Harvest from July to September. Sow from April to July. Vilmorin seeds.
Ease of cultivation
Beginner
Height at maturity
2 m
Spread at maturity
50 cm
Soil moisture
Moist soil
Germination time (days)
14 days
Sowing method
Direct sowing, Sowing under cover
Sowing period April to July
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Flowering time May to August
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Harvest time July to September
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Description

'Melissa' is an excellent flavoured and popular French filet type climbing variety, bred by Vilmorin. It produces straight, round, stringless dark purple pods that measure up to 30 cm in length. The fine-flavoured, tender beans are perfect in summer salads or lightly cooked (the purple colour of the pods will then revert to green). The 2 m tall plants form pretty white flowers in spring that give way to pods from July to September. Sow from April to July.

Beans are popular vegetables belonging to the Fabaceae family, grown for their edible pods or seeds. They were widely consumed in the New World before being introduced and acclimatized in Europe during the 16th century. Beans have now become a staple food worldwide. Cultivated beans fall into two main categories: vining/climbing varieties known as pole beans (indeterminate growth habit) or low-growing bush varieties (determinate growth habit). Heirloom and traditional varieties are all vining and will require a support to scramble up. Bush varieties are free-standing and compact which can be practical in smaller growing spaces. They produce one large harvest over a short period of time, as opposed to vining beans which can be harvested nearly all summer long.

Green beans, string beans or snap beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) are grown for their cylindrical immature pods. Some varieties are yellow (wax beans) whilst others are purple or streaked with red. French beans and Italian Romano beans are generally grown for their flat, fleshy, fresh-tasting immature pods although they can often be harvested later as shelling beans. Filet beans (Haricots verts Fins or Extra-Fins) are a type of French bean that are particularly round, slender and fine-flavoured. Older green bean cultivars generally develop a tough fibrous thread along the pod’s seam, hence the name “string” bean. Modern “snap” varieties are stringless. Runner beans or scarlet runner beans (Phaseolus coccineus) develop flat pods that are generally chopped diagonally when cooked. The ornamental plants produce large, attractive red or white flowers.

Shell or shelling beans are grown for their seeds, the pods are discarded. They can be harvested as fresh, tender beans (about 60 days after sowing), as semi-dry beans or as dry beans (about 90 days after sowing).

Immature green pods are rich in vitamins A, B9 and C, trace elements and minerals. Dry beans are also very rich in vitamin C and trace elements and are an excellent source of vegetable protein.

Harvesting: Green beans should be harvested every 2 to 3 days, about 50-60 days after sowing. For fresh shell beans, harvest before the pods begin to dehydrate and become wrinkled. To harvest dry beans, cut off the whole plant at its base and hang it in a dry, well ventilated place. The beans can then be shelled as and when required or stored in airtight jars.

Storage: Green beans can be either be blanched then frozen, canned, or dried for later use. Dry beans will keep up for a year when stored in the right conditions.

Good to know: Like all members of the Fabaceae family, beans are nitrogen-fixing plants. They are often used in crop rotations to enrich the soil before or after plants that require lots of nitrogen to grow. Traditionally, bean crops were grown alongside squash and corn plants in Central and South America in a system known as Milpa agriculture. Beans are good companion plants to aubergines, carrots, cabbages, potatoes and radishes. Avoid growing beans too close to fennel or members of the Alliaceae family as their growth will be inhibited. Spraying with stinging nettle fertilizer is an effective way of strengthening your bean plants whilst keeping pests such as aphids at bay.

Harvest

Harvest time July to September
Type of vegetable Fruit vegetable
Vegetable colour violet
Size of vegetable Medium
Interest Flavour, Nutritional value, Colour, Productive
Use Cooking

Plant habit

Height at maturity 2 m
Spread at maturity 50 cm
Growth rate normal

Foliage

Foliage persistence Deciduous
Foliage colour dark green
Aromatic? Fragrant foliage when creased

Botanical data

Genus

Phaseolus

Species

vulgaris

Cultivar

Melissa

Family

Fabaceae

Other common names

Pole Bean

Origin

Cultivar or hybrid

Annual / Perennial

Annual

Product reference267111

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Planting and care

Soil preparation: Beans like light, moist, nutrient-rich, free-draining soil that’s not excessively calcareous or acidic. To prepare the soil bed, loosen the top 20 cm and amend with compost or well-rotted manure. Avoid sowing beans in soil that has been recently limed as this will result in tougher pods and poorer flavour.

Sowing under cover: beans can be sown in polytunnels or South to West facing cold frames as early as mid-March. Bean plants are not cold hardy, soil temperature needs to be 15°C minimum. Only ventilate the polytunnel or cold frame during the warmer hours of the day and wait until all risk of frost is over to remove the protective covers completely.

Sowing outdoors: Sow your beans from April onwards in warmer regions or from May onwards elsewhere. Wait until the soil has warmed up and frosts are no longer a problem. Dig 3-4 cm deep furrows, 40 cm apart and sow your seeds every 5-7 cm. Otherwise, sow 4-5 seeds in seed holes, spaced 40 cm apart in all directions. Cover with soil and firm down lightly with the back of a rake. When the seedlings are about 20 cm tall, hill them up for extra support.

The first beans will be ready to harvest about 60 days after sowing. Pole beans can be generally be harvested until late October. When growing bush varieties, stagger your sowing every 15 days for regular harvests until late autumn.

Climbing beans require support to grow up, such as A frames or tepees made out of stakes or wire netting.

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Seedlings

Sowing period April to July
Sowing method Direct sowing, Sowing under cover
Germination time (days) 14 days

Care

Soil moisture Tolerant
Disease resistance Very good
Pruning No pruning necessary

Intended location

Type of use Vegetable garden
Hardiness Hardy down to -1°C (USDA zone 10a) Show map
Ease of cultivation Beginner
Soil léger
Exposure Sun
Soil pH Any
Soil type Silty-loamy (rich and light), 130
4,8/5
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