Practical
Plants

Phaseolus vulgaris

French Bean

an annual member of the Phaseolus genus in the family Leguminosae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
annual
Height
2 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Bees
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Large quantities of the raw mature seed are poisonous[1][17]. Children eating just a few seeds have shown mild forms of poisoning with nausea and diarrhoea, though complete recovery took place in 12 - 24 hours[12]. The toxins play a role in protecting the plant from insect predation[19].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Immature seedpods - raw or cooked[16][2]. The green pods are commonly used as a vegetable, they have a mild flavour and should only be cooked for a short time. When growing the plant for its seedpods, be sure to pick them whilst they are still small and tender. This will ensure the continued production of more pods by the plant. Flowering is reduced once the seeds begin to form inside the pods. The immature seeds are boiled or steamed and used as a vegetable[7]. The mature seeds are dried and stored for future use. They must be thoroughly cooked before being eaten and are best soaked in water for about 12 hours prior to this. They can be boiled, baked, pureed, ground into a powder or fermented into 'tempeh' etc[7]. The powdered seed makes a protein-enriching additive to flour, it can also be used in soups etc[K]. The seed can also be sprouted and used in salads or cooked[7]. The roasted seeds have been used as a coffee substitute[18]. Young leaves - raw or cooked as a potherb[5][7]. The very young laves are sometimes eaten as a salad, the older leaves are cooked[12].

Product or use
Coffee
Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Seed
Plant part
Seedpod

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The green pods are mildly diuretic and contain a substance that reduces the blood sugar level[11]. The dried mature pod is used according to another report[20]. It is used in the treatment of diabetes[20]. The seed is diuretic, hypoglycaemic and hypotensive[18]. Ground into a flour, it is used externally in the treatment of ulcers[18]. The seed is also used in the treatment of cancer of the blood[11]. When bruised and boiled with garlic they have cured intractable coughs[15]. The root is dangerously narcotic[15]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the entire fresh herb[20]. It is used in the treatment of rheumatism and arthritis, plus disorders of the urinary tract[20].

Product or use
Cancer
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Homeopathy
Product or use
Hypoglycaemic
Product or use
Hypotensive
Product or use
Narcotic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A brown dye is obtained from red kidney beans[4]. The plant contains phaseolin, which has fungicidal activity[11]. Water from the cooked beans is very effective in reviving woollen fabrics[18]. The plant residue remaining after harvesting the dried beans is a source of biomass[12].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Fungicide
Product or use
Biomass

Environment

Range
S. America? Original habitat is obscure.
Habitat
Not known in a truly wild situation.
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 10+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Pre-soak the seed for 12 hours in warm water and sow in mid spring in a greenhouse. Germination should take place within 10 days. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out after the last expected frosts. The seed can also be sown in situ in late spring though it may not ripen its seed in a cool summer.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a warm sunny position in a rich well-drained preferably light soil with plenty of moisture in the growing season[13][14][10]. Dislikes heavy, wet or acid soils[3][14]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 to 6.5[10]. The French bean is commonly cultivated in the temperate and subtropical zones and in montane valleys of the tropics for its edible mature seeds and immature seedpods. It is often grown to provide a major part of the protein requirement[7][12]. A very variable plant, there are more than 1,000 named varieties ranging from dwarf forms about 30cm tall to climbing forms up to 3 metres tall[7][8][10][12]. Plants are not frost-tolerant, air temperatures below 10°c can cause damage to seedlings[10]. When grown for their edible pods, the immature pods should be harvested regularly in order to promote extra flower production and therefore higher yields[10]. Yields of green pods averages about 3kg per square metre, though double this can be achieved[10]. French beans grow well with strawberries, carrots, cauliflowers, cucumbers, cabbage, beet, leek and celeriac[6][9]. They are inhibited by alliums and fennel growing nearby[6][9]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[10]. When removing plant remains at the end of the growing season, it is best to only remove the aerial parts of the plant, leaving the roots in the ground to decay and release their nitrogen.

References

  1. Altmann. H. Poisonous Plants and Animals. Chatto and Windus 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-7011-2526-8

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  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

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  3. Simons. New Vegetable Growers Handbook. Penguin 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-050-0

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  4. Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8

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  5. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

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  6. Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins 1979-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  7. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  8. Beckett. G. and K. Planting Native Trees and Shrubs. Jarrold 1979-00-00

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  9. Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-88266-064-0

    ↩1↩2

  10. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  11. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2↩3

  12. Duke. J. Handbook of Energy Crops - 1983-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  13. Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8

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  14. Thompson. B. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son. 1878-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  15. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2

  16. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

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  17. Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394

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  18. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  19. Cooper. M. and Johnson. A. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. HMSO 1984-00-00 ISBN 0112425291

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  20. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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