Growing Runner Beans

Runner Beans
The ideal plant for the beginner gardener. If the soil is prepared well with lots of compost, runner beans are very forgiving vegetables. The foliage is attractive, and the red or white flowers making this a beautiful garden feature.

Originally a perennial plant from South America, they are grown in the UK as a half-hardy annual, being struck down each year by the frost. They produce large amounts of beans and juicy flesh which are best eaten soon after picking, but also freeze well.

Many varieties grow to about 2m (6ft) tall and therefore need support. Some of the more recent varieties are dwarfs and need no support making them particularly easy to grow.

RUNNER BEAN QUICK GUIDE

Folklore
None available

Latin Name
Phaseolus coccineus

Type
Perennial, but grown in UK as half-hardy annual.

Site and Soil
Full sun, sheltered from wind. Well-dug water retaining soil, do not add additional nitrogen

Plant to Harvest Time
13 weeks

How Many?
5kg (11lb) per metre (yard)

How To Grow Runner Beans - Sun and Soil

Runner beans prefer a position in full sun, although they tolerate part shade very well. Because of their height, they should not be grown in areas exposed to winds, they will easily be blown over.

Remember also that their foliage is very thick and this results in them casting deep shade over a wide area. Useful for some vegetables but not so good for others.

Part of the 'legume' family of vegetables, runner beans are able to extract nitrogen from the air and fix it in little nodules on its roots. For this reason, the soil should not be rich in nitrogen, which would only result in lots of leafy growth and few beans. The ideal soil is deeply dug with lots of well-rotted organic matter (peat or peat substitute is ideal) incorporated. This will ensure that the soil is capable of holding lots of water, a key need of runner beans. Prepare the soil in February or March.

How to Grow Runner Beans - When to Sow

If unprotected, Runner Beans are in almost all cases damaged by any degree of frost. Where the seedlings have appeared above the soil surface and a late unexpected frost strikes, it is best to remove them and plant more seeds in their place. The best time to plant Runner Beans outside is a week before the last frost (click here for frost dates in your area).

Cloches or supported plastic will protect them if a late frost is predicted, as will plastic bottles with the bottom cut off placed over the seedlings. The other alternative is to sow the seeds in peat pots and initially grow them on the windowsill until all danger of frost has passed and then plant them, peat pots and all, directly into the ground. Remember to soak the peat pots in water prior to planting so that they will quickly break down in the soil.

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