Bean Seeds - Bush - Masai
47-60 Days to maturity. Phaseolus vulgaris. Masai Bush Bean Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, high yielding, heat tolerant, bush, snap, green bean. Suitable for growing in containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. The Masai Bush Bean is an excellent option for gardeners looking for a compact, high-yielding, and heat-tolerant bean with excellent flavor. It’s well-suited to small spaces and quick to mature, making it a fantastic choice for both new and experienced gardeners. The pods are slender, dark green, and about 4-5 inches long. The beans inside are small, which contributes to their tender texture.
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Growing Masai Bush Beans in the Vegetable Garden
To start growing Masai Bush Beans, direct sowing is the preferred method since these beans don’t transplant well due to their delicate roots. It’s best to plant them directly into the garden after the last frost, when soil temperatures reach 60-70 F. Sow the seeds about 1 inch deep in well-drained, fertile soil, as beans don’t thrive in soggy conditions. Space the seeds 2-4 inches apart, with rows spaced 12-18 inches to allow good airflow and room for growth. Proper spacing helps reduce the risk of diseases and ensures the plants grow healthy and strong.
Masai Bush Beans are relatively low-maintenance once planted, but some care ensures a productive harvest. Water them deeply once or twice a week, keeping the soil moist but not waterlogged, and avoid wetting the leaves to prevent mildew. Beans don’t need much fertilizer, as they fix their own nitrogen, but starting with nutrient-rich soil or mixing in compost can boost growth. Regular weeding and mulching help control weeds and retain soil moisture. Additionally, Masai beans benefit from companion planting with crops like corn, cucumbers, carrots, and marigolds, but avoid planting them near onions or garlic, which can hinder their growth.
Harvesting Masai Bush Beans
These beans are a snap variety, meaning they’re harvested for their tender pods, which are ready in about 47 days. Pods should be picked when 4-5 inches long, crisp, and before the seeds inside start to bulge. Regular harvesting encourages continuous production. Masai Bush Beans are compact, high-yielding, and heat-tolerant, making them an excellent choice for gardeners with limited space or warmer climates. Their tender, sweet flavor is ideal for fresh eating, in salads, or sautéed, and they offer the added benefits of being a nutrient-rich, low-calorie food source.
About Masai Bush Bean Garden Seeds
This very popular baby French filet bean is one of the most popular in Europe. The pods have a very tender texture and are about four inches long when mature.
Very good, flavorful beans are borne on bushes with small leaves, making them easy to pick.
Masai Bush Beans are highly regarded in European gardening circles and are often a favorite in areas where space is at a premium, such as urban or small-scale home gardens.
They are an excellent source of fiber, which helps with digestion, and they’re low in calories, making them a great choice for a healthy diet.
Tips From Our Gardeners
"An abundant green bean harvest can be preserved through canning or blanching then freezing. I personally prefer the blanch-then-freeze method as I feel it best preserves the texture and flavor. However, canning them will make them shelf-stable for months without needing a freezer. Choose what works best for you!"
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- Lara Wadsworth, True Leaf Market Writer |
Other Resources
- Examples Of Seed Variation - Natural Vs Man-Made Materials
Non-GMO Masai Bush Bean seeds are available for Fast Free Shipping on qualifying orders.
Basic Info
| Latin Name: | Phaseolus vulgaris |
| Bean Sub-Type: | Not Applicable. |
| Masai Bush Bean Color: | Green |
| Masai Bush Bean Flavor: | Delicate, sweet flavor. |
Growing Info
| Hardiness Zone: | 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 Annual Crop: Not Intended to Overwinter |
| Days to Maturity: | 47-60 |
| Days to Germination: | 5-10 |
| Seeding Depth: | 1 inch |
| Plant Spacing: | 4-6 inches |
| Row Spacing: | 12-18 inches |
| Plant Height: | 12 inches |
| Growth Habit: | Upright |
| Soil Preference: | Beans prefer well-draining, nutrient-rich, loamy soil with a pH of 6.0-6.8. As light feeders and nitrogen-fixing legumes, beans do not require nitrogen-heavy fertilizers. |
| Temperature Preference: | Warmer (70-85 F). |
| Light Preference: | Full Sun |
Other
| Direct Sow: | Yes, direct sow when soil temperatures are reliably above 60 F. Planting with an inoculant may increase yields, but is certainly not required for a successful grow. |
| Start Indoors: | Not Recommended. Beans grow best without any root disturbance. We recommend direct sowing instead of transplanting. |
| Bean Pollination: | Beans are self-pollinating as they contain both the male and female parts within their flowers, unlike other fruit and vegetable plants. While they are self-pollinating, having a variety of pollinators and flowers around will improve yields by ensuring the greatest chances for pollinating events to occur. |
| Snap or Shell Bean: | Snap - Snap beans have a fleshy edible pod. Snap beans are also commonly referred to as string beans or green beans (though not all snap beans are green). They are called snap beans because they make a snapping sound when you break them in half. |
| Pole or Bush Bean: | Bush - Bush beans grow on low-growing, compact, upright, bushy plants that typically do not need a trellis, pole, or other support. Bush beans are usually favorable to container growing. |
| Plant Width: | 8-12 inches |
| Growth Speed: | Early - Ready for harvest around 45-65 days. |
| Deer Resistant: | No |
| Germination Temperature: | 70-90 F |
| Pests and Diseases: | Beans are susceptible to beetles, aphids, spider mites, and cutworms. Look for signs of chewing, curling leaves, eggs on the undersides of leaves, and leaf discoloration. Keeping your bean plants clean from dust build-up and surrounded by a variety of plants to help deter and prevent pest damage. Beans are also susceptible to powdery mildew, bean blight, rust, and root rot. Maintain a regular watering schedule that avoids overly saturated soil. The roots need adequate time to air out between watering. This will also help prevent common fungal and bacterial diseases from developing. Good air circulation and applying water to the ground rather than the leaves will help maintain healthy bean plant growth. |
| Garden Size: | Greenhouse, Garden Plot, Raised Bed, Container |
| Bean Use: | Masai Bush Beans are typically used as snap beans for fresh eating, steaming, or lightly sautéing. They hold up well to various preparations but are excellent for salads, stir-fries, or a fresh side dish. They retain their flavor and texture when blanched and frozen, making them a good option for preserving. |
| Climate Tolerance: | Heat, Drought |