French Beans

The ancestor of the modern French Bean originated in South and Central America. The beans have been cultivated in that part of the world since ancient times and were brought over to Europe after the Spanish conquest.

Because they come from a tropical climate, French Beans need a warm soil in which to germinate and grow: beans planted too early in the year either fail to germinate or else produce very weak plants.

Late June or July is therefore the best time to plant the beans in the British Isles.

The plants need good soil, free of weeds and plenty of water. They then grow very rapidly and produce a large crop of delicious beans in august. It is a good idea to mulch round the young plants with grass cuttings (providing the lawn has never been sprayed with chemicals): this keeps down the weeds and stops the soil from drying out.

There are many different kinds of French Beans but the easiest to grow are the bush varieties (as opposed to ones that need sticks to climb up). Most people grow varieties that have green pods, but you can also get ones with yellow pods, purple pods and variegated pods. It is best to grow string less varieties so that the whole pod to be picked and eaten when young.

The smaller the beans when picked, the better the taste: the pods start to dry out as soon as they are picked and become limp and bendy within a few hours. This means that unless you grow French beans for yourself, you never get a chance to taste them the way that they really are.

Temperature

USDA recommended storage Snap beans 40 to 45° F. (4.4-7.2° C.)

Average freezing point 30.7° F. (-0.7° C.)

USDA recommended storage Lima beans 37 to 41° F. (2.8-5.0° C.)

Sources: The Produce Blue Book

Suitable Shipping Condition/

F.O.B. Good Delivery Guidelines

French

18% total including

8% serious including

3% decay

Sources: United States Department Of Agriculture and the Agricultural Marketing Programs and Services.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 cup of cubed

Amount Per Serving

Calories from Fat 1Calories 20

% Daily Values*

Total Fat 0.16g 0%

Saturated Fat 0.028g 0%

Polyunsaturated Fat 0.062g

Monounsaturated Fat 0.013g

Cholesterol 0mg 0%

Sodium 2mg 0%

Potassium 189mg

Total Carbohydrate 4.67g 2%

Dietary Fiber 2.8g 11%

Sugars 1.93g

Protein 0.83g

Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C 3%

Calcium 1% Iron 1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Nutrition Values are based on USDA Nutrient Database SR18

Century Farms International, Inc.

10957 NW 123rd Street Medley, FL 33178

Office: 305-436-7971 Fax: 305-436-7968