Dwarf Bean 'Merveille de Piemonte'

20 seeds

Dwarf Bean ‘Merveille de Piemonte’ is a compact, productive bush bean known for its attractive flat, creamy-yellow pods marked with purple streaks. The pods are crisp, tender and suitable for fresh cooking, freezing and preserving. The plants generally reach around 50–80 cm and are suitable for vegetable beds and roomy containers.

The pods can be harvested young as fresh beans, while mature pods can also be left longer for dried beans. Depending on growing conditions, fresh pods can be ready roughly 50–65 days after sowing.

🌱 Best Planting Time in the Gulf

• Gulf region: September–April
• Kuwait: September–October and February–March
• UAE, Qatar and Bahrain: September–April
• Saudi Arabia and Oman: September–April, depending on local temperatures
• In the hottest areas, aim for the cooler part of autumn or late winter/early spring.
• Avoid sowing during extreme summer heat.

Beans need warm soil for good germination and do not perform well when exposed to extreme heat during flowering and pod development.

🌿 How to Plant the Seeds

1. Choose a sunny location with fertile, well-drained soil.
2. Sow the seeds directly where they will grow; beans generally do not need transplanting.
3. Plant seeds approximately 2–5 cm deep.
4. Space plants about 15–25 cm apart.
5. Leave approximately 45–50 cm between rows.
6. Cover the seeds lightly and water thoroughly after sowing.
7. Keep the soil evenly moist until germination.
8. Thin seedlings if necessary, keeping the strongest plants.

Sources for this variety recommend sowing approximately 2–3 cm or up to 5 cm deep, with spacing varying according to the growing system.

🌡️ Germination

• Suitable soil temperature: approximately 18–25°C
• Germination: usually about 7–14 days
• Keep the seedbed warm and evenly moist.
• Avoid waterlogged soil, which can cause seeds to rot.
• During very hot Gulf weather, germinate the seeds in a protected location.

☀️ Sunlight

• Provide full sun, ideally around 6–8 hours of good sunlight.
• Morning sun is particularly useful in the Gulf.
• During extreme heat, provide light afternoon shade.
• Choose a location protected from strong winds.

💧 Watering

• Water thoroughly after sowing.
• Keep the soil evenly moist during germination and early growth.
• Give additional water during flowering and pod formation.
• Avoid constantly saturated soil.
• Water around the base of the plants rather than keeping the foliage wet for long periods.

🌱 Soil

Use fertile, loose, well-drained soil containing organic matter.

A good container mixture can include:

• Quality vegetable-growing soil
• Mature compost
• Perlite or pumice for improved drainage

Avoid heavy, poorly drained soil.

🌿 Fertilizing

• Add mature compost before planting.
• Use a light, balanced vegetable fertilizer if the soil is poor.
• Avoid excessive nitrogen, as it can encourage leafy growth rather than abundant pods.
• Beans naturally contribute nitrogen to the soil through their root association with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, but they still benefit from balanced soil fertility.

🪴 Growing in Containers

‘Merveille de Piemonte’ is suitable for roomy containers because of its compact bush habit.

• Use a container with good drainage.
• Allow approximately 15–25 cm between plants.
• Place the container where it receives morning sun.
• During extreme Gulf heat, move containers to a location with afternoon protection.

🫘 Harvesting

Harvest the pods while they are young, smooth and tender for the best texture.

The pods are characteristically flat, creamy yellow with purple streaks and can reach approximately 15–20 cm or more depending on growing conditions.

• Pick regularly rather than allowing all pods to mature.
• Frequent harvesting encourages the plant to continue producing.
• Young pods are excellent for steaming, boiling, stir-frying and freezing.
• Some pods can be left to mature if you want to collect dry beans.

🔥 Gulf Climate Tips

• Do not sow during the hottest Gulf summer period.
• In Kuwait, autumn and late winter are generally more practical planting windows.
• Protect plants from intense afternoon heat when temperatures become extreme.
• Keep the root zone cool with a light organic mulch.
• Good drainage is especially important after heavy irrigation.
• Succession sowing during suitable weather can provide a longer harvest period.

🌱 Growing Tip: For the Gulf, sow ‘Merveille de Piemonte’ during the cooler growing season, using warm but not overheated soil. Give it full morning sun, regular moisture and excellent drainage, then harvest the colourful pods frequently while they are young and tender.