Antigua Bush Bean

The Antigua bean is a masterpiece of modern horticultural selection, bred to improve upon the legendary French Haricot Vert heritage. Historically, French Filet beans were the pride of 19th-century Parisian market gardens, where they were harvested by hand at a very young age to ensure maximum tenderness.

However, many of those older French varieties were susceptible to disease and produced low yields. Antigua was developed to solve these problems—bringing that same "gourmet" slender profile into a robust, high-performing plant. It represents the "best of both worlds": the refined texture of a classic European heirloom paired with the vigor and disease resistance required for a successful modern organic garden.

• Gourmet "Filet" Quality: Produces extra-slender, dark-green pods (about 5–6 inches long) that are famous for their crisp, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
• Concentrated Harvest: Features a heavy "set" of beans all at once, making it the perfect variety for gardeners who want to blanch and freeze their harvest for winter.
• Disease Resistance Powerhouse: Highly resistant to Bean Common Mosaic Virus (BCMV) and Anthracnose, ensuring a healthy crop even in damp or challenging summers.
• Space-Saving Bush Habit: Grows into tidy, 18-inch mounds that do not require trellises or poles—perfect for small plots and raised beds.
• Totally Stringless: Even when harvested at full size, these beans remain tender and entirely free of tough strings.

1. When to Plant:
Beans are heat-loving plants. Direct sow seeds outdoors only after the soil has warmed to at least 65°F and all danger of frost has passed.

2. Sowing the Seeds:

• Depth: Sow seeds 1 inch deep.
• Spacing: Space seeds 2–3 inches apart in rows 18–24 inches apart.
• Note: Do not soak bean seeds before planting, as this can cause the seeds to crack and reduce germination.

3. Maintenance:

• Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, especially once the plants begin to flower. Always water at the base of the plant to keep the foliage dry, which prevents fungal issues.
• Avoid High Nitrogen: Too much nitrogen will result in massive green leaves but very few beans! Use a balanced organic compost at planting time.
• Mulching: A thin layer of straw around the base will help retain moisture and keep the pods clean and off the soil.

4. Harvesting:
For the true "French Filet" experience, harvest Antigua beans when they are about the thickness of a pencil. The more frequently you harvest, the more the plant will produce!

Because Antigua beans are so slender and tender, they require very little cooking time. Simply blanch them in boiling water for 3 minutes, then shock them in ice water to preserve their brilliant green color. Sauté quickly in butter with minced garlic and a squeeze of fresh lemon for a classic, professional-grade side dish.

Garden Tip: Because Antigua is a bush bean, it is the perfect candidate for succession planting. Sow a new row every 2 weeks through early summer to ensure a continuous supply of fresh, gourmet beans until the first frost! 🧺🌿🇫🇷