SPERLI Buschbohne Maxi

A bush bean with white flowers and green pods that needs no poles – harvested from July to October.

The story

Origins & history

The common bean comes from Central and South America, where it was domesticated independently in Mexico and in the Andes. It reached Europe on Spanish ships in the 16th century and quickly became at home here.

Uses

Bush beans grow compactly and need no support; they thrive in sun or partial shade. As legumes they fix nitrogen from the air with the help of root-nodule bacteria. Eat beans only cooked – raw they are not fit to eat.

Meaning

In many Indigenous cultures of the Americas the bean grew together with maize and squash; the Iroquois called them the ‘three sisters’, who support, nourish and shade one another.

A thought for giving

A bean gives something back to the soil as it grows. A fine example for any community.

At a glance

• Contents: 1 packet for approx. 4-5 running metres
• Botanical name: Phaseolus vulgaris
• Life cycle: annual
• Position: sunny, partial shade
• Sow outdoors: May–July
• Harvest: July–October
• Sowing depth: 2–3 cm
• Germination temperature: 15–25 °C
• Germination time: 14–21 days
• Plant spacing: 8–10 cm
• Row spacing: 40 cm
• Seed type: loose seed

How to sow

1. Sow directly in the bed from May to July, 2–3 cm deep.
2. At 15–25 °C the seeds germinate in 14–21 days.
3. Space 8–10 cm apart in the row, with 40 cm between rows.
4. Sun or partial shade, ideally in peat-free vegetable compost (Gemüseerde torffrei) with vegetable fertiliser (Gemüse-Dünger).

Delivery time: 1–2 weeks. Manufacturer: SPERLI GmbH. Seeds, not a plant – the image shows the original packet.

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