Bean Seeds, Calima
Bundled Calima Beans tied with jute with cut and sliced beans and props from France on a jade background.
Whole and cut Calima Beans with pickled beans, blooms and foliage arranged on white background.
Calima Beans on metal background with blooms.
Calima Beans with a french knife and a postcard on white background.
Gardener holding a handful of freshly picked Calima Beans.
Bean Seeds, Calima
Bundled Calima Beans tied with jute with cut and sliced beans and props from France on a jade background.
Whole and cut Calima Beans with pickled beans, blooms and foliage arranged on white background.
Calima Beans on metal background with blooms.
Calima Beans with a french knife and a postcard on white background.
Gardener holding a handful of freshly picked Calima Beans.

Bean Seeds,
Calima

4.8144 Reviews#BN144 · 40 seeds
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Description

(Phaseolus vulgaris) Bush bean. The slim, straight pods of this French filet type grow long and elegant—about 7 to 8 inches—yet stay tender when picked young and pencil-thin. Ready in around 55 days, the stocky bush plants hold their pods high, making harvest a breeze and keeping beans clean and easy to spot. A favorite among growers who know good flavor, Calima delivers that fine, delicate snap and refined taste that sets true filet beans apart from the crowd.

Plant Details

Botanical Name
Phaseolus vulgaris
Life Cycle
Annual
Growth Habit
Bush
Sun Requirement
Full sun
Days to Germinate
7–14
Days to Maturity
50–55
Planting Depth
½–1 in.
Plant Spacing
4 in.
Ideal Temperature
70–80°F
Frost Hardy
No

Growing Guide

When to Grow

Calima beans can be grown in USDA hardiness zones 3-11. Plant them outdoors after the last frost date in spring and ensure the soil temperature is consistently above 65 F. In most regions, this means planting in late spring. Pick frequently to keep plants productive. Succession plant for prolonged harvest. If you’re not sure how to find your first and last frost dates, consult our blog post 'Our Experts Answer Questions, Share Resources.'

How to Sow and Plant

Sow seeds about 1/2 to 1 inch deep in the soil. Space the plants 4 inches apart to allow for air circulation and easy access for harvesting. Water the seeds thoroughly after planting and maintain consistent moisture as they grow​.​

How to Grow

As Calima beans are a bush type, they don’t require staking. Keep the area around the beans free of weeds to reduce competition for nutrients and water. Applying mulch can help retain soil moisture and control weeds. Harvest the pods when they are about the thickness of a pencil for the best flavor and texture. The beans mature in around 50 to 55 days, with sprouts forming in 7 to 14 days.

How to Save Seeds

  • Common beans do not easily cross pollinate and can be grown close to one another, making them the ideal seed-saving project for beginners.
  • Save seeds from the best-looking, best-tasting, and most vigorous beans.
  • Leave pods on the plant to dry. Pull the plants and shake them vigorously into a bag to release the beans from the pods (same as you would for using them as dried beans).
  • Store in a cool, dry place for the winter (a glass jar in the refrigerator works well!).

FAQ

Can Calima beans be grown in containers?

Yes, they can be grown in containers, provided the container is large enough to support their root system and has good drainage.

What is the best way to store harvested Calima beans?

Fresh beans can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week. For longer storage, consider freezing or canning them.

Do Calima beans need any special fertilization?

Beans fix their own nitrogen, so they generally do not require additional nitrogen fertilizers. However, they can benefit from moderate amounts of phosphorus and potassium in the soil.

Browse our full range of bean seeds.

Customer reviews

4.8 / 5 144 Reviews

What gardeners are saying

  • Long, slender pods: Straight 7 to 9 inch pods that stay thin and stringless.

  • Sweet, full flavor: Crisp and sweet with real bean flavor; freezes and cans well.

  • Small bush, big yield: Small bushes crank out beans, with more sets as you pick.

  • Replaces old favorites: Has pushed Blue Lake, Fortex and Kentucky Wonder out of gardens.

  • Growing tips: Each sowing bears for a few weeks; plant again every two weeks.

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