<p>(53 days) The premiere French filet baby bean on the market. Improved tolerance to temperature extremes, and stronger, more erect branches hold Nickel’s dark green, slender and stringless 10cm (4 in.) pods off the ground. Stronger resistance to foliar diseases and root rot. The absolute best in eating quality! Approx. 150 white seeds/oz.</p><p>CULTURE: Filet beans are vigorous plants that will grow about 3 feet tall and may benefit from some sort of rough support. Otherwise grow and fertilize like bush beans. Optimum soil temperature for germination is 60-85 F. Days to emergence: 8-16. The secret is to sow them in warm soil, so try to wait for a break in the rain from mid-May to the end of June, and let the sun warm the ground. Replanting may be necessary because soil fungus will rot the seed if it is cold and wet. If the weather is too wet, beans can also be started in pots indoors and set out a few weeks later. For a long summer harvest, plant 2 or 3 times, at 3-week intervals. Set seeds 5-8cm (2-3 in.) apart and 2cm (1 in.) deep, in rows 45cm (18 in.) apart. Use 1 cup of complete organic fertilizer for 3m (10 ft.) of row. Too much nitrogen is often the cause of poor pod set and delayed maturity. Beans should be planted on ground that was limed 2 years ago, as they like mildly acid soil. Regular watering early in the day in summer is important as they have very shallow root systems. <p>DISEASE: Wet leaves are subject to diseases so try to water only the roots if possible. It is also very important to take the finished plants away from the garden so the diseases don’t carry over. Rotate this bed into potatoes next year. <p>INSECTS: Plant in warm soil so the seedlings grow vigorously. This will help avoid fatal insect damage. <p>HARVEST: Pick beans regularly and the plant will keep producing. (If any neglected pods get fat with seed, the plant will stop making flowers.) Usually, the smaller the bean, the more tender it is. <p>SEEDSPEC: Minimum germination standard: 80%. Days to emergence: 8-16. Optimum soil temperature range for germination: 15-30 C (60-85 F). Days to maturity: from date of direct seeding. Usual seed life: 2-3 years.</p><p>Elegant, tender, tiny. The plants will grow to 1m (3 ft.) tall but don’t climb. To get the full benefit of the fine breeding that has gone into these beans, it is important to pick them at least every other day when the pods are only cm (1/8-1/4 in.) in diameter.</p>
