Cold hardiness & minimum temperature

Is Haricot Vert (Phaseolus vulgaris 'French Filet')cold hardy? Hardiness zone & min temp

Also called Haricot Vert, French Filet Bean, French Green Bean, Filet Bean.

More about haricot vert

About Haricot Vert

Phaseolus vulgaris 'French Filet' · also called Haricot Vert, French Filet Bean · edible

The classic French fine bean: slender, stringless, pencil-thin pods harvested at 10–13 cm for peak tenderness and flavour. Bush varieties mature early in 50–60 days, making succession sowing every 2–3 weeks highly productive. Prized for gourmet texture and versatility. Requires consistent harvesting every 2 days once pods begin forming to maintain quality.

Cold limit: USDA 3–10 (frost-tender annual) · RHS H1c (16–28 °C)

What haricot vert's hardiness rating actually means

Hardiness works differently for haricot vert: it is grown as a seasonal crop, not overwintered. The question is not "what zone" but "how long is your frost-free growing window". Its RHS rating of H1c means: Warm-temperate — can summer outdoors but must come in well before the first frost. On the US scale that maps to USDA 3–10 (frost-tender annual) — the zones where it can be left outdoors year-round.

New to these scales? The USDA hardiness zone map explained covers how the zone numbers work, and you can find your own zone with the zone finder.

Minimum temperature — and what happens below it

As an annual crop, its "minimum temperature" is the first hard frost — that is the end of the plant's life, not a survivable low. Many types are also damaged by light frost (around 0 °C).

Concretely, for haricot vert as it gets too cold:

Light frost (around 0 to −2 °C) damages or kills tender summer crops outright; cold-hardy types take a few degrees of frost.
The plant does not "survive winter" — its life cycle simply ends, by design, when frost arrives or it finishes cropping.
A surprise late spring frost can also kill young transplants set out too early, before the season even starts.

Can haricot vert go outside or overwinter — and where?

Time it to your frost dates: sow or plant out after the last spring frost, and aim to harvest before the first autumn frost.
In short-season zones, start it indoors or under cover to stretch the effective growing window.
Hardier crops in this group can be sown for an autumn or overwintered harvest in mild zones — check the specific crop.

Work back from your local frost dates with the frost-date calculator: the last spring frost and first autumn frost are what really decide when haricot vert can be outside. US growers can check USDA zones; UK growers should use the RHS hardiness ratings, which match the H1c figure above.

Frost protection for borderline haricot vert

Haricot Vert is right on a hardiness edge in many gardens, so if you are pushing it, these measures buy it the margin it needs:

Use fleece, cloches or a cold frame at each end of the season to dodge a borderline frost and add growing weeks.
Have row cover ready for an unexpected late spring or early autumn frost.
Know your local last- and first-frost dates and count back the crop’s days-to-maturity to schedule the sowing.

Haricot Vert hardiness — frequently asked questions

Is haricot vert cold hardy?

Hardiness works differently for haricot vert: it is grown as a seasonal crop, not overwintered. The question is not "what zone" but "how long is your frost-free growing window". A seasonal crop, not a perennial. Haricot Vert is grown 3–10 (frost-tender annual); you sow after the last frost and harvest before the first one, then start again next year.

What is the minimum temperature haricot vert can survive?

As an annual crop, its "minimum temperature" is the first hard frost — that is the end of the plant's life, not a survivable low. Many types are also damaged by light frost (around 0 °C).

What hardiness zone is haricot vert?

Haricot Vert is rated USDA 3–10 (frost-tender annual) and RHS H1c — Warm-temperate — can summer outdoors but must come in well before the first frost.

Can haricot vert survive winter outside?

Time it to your frost dates: sow or plant out after the last spring frost, and aim to harvest before the first autumn frost. In short-season zones, start it indoors or under cover to stretch the effective growing window. Hardier crops in this group can be sown for an autumn or overwintered harvest in mild zones — check the specific crop.

How do I protect haricot vert from frost?

Use fleece, cloches or a cold frame at each end of the season to dodge a borderline frost and add growing weeks. Have row cover ready for an unexpected late spring or early autumn frost. Know your local last- and first-frost dates and count back the crop’s days-to-maturity to schedule the sowing.