Runner Beans are an excellent vegetable to grow. Homegrown varieties are often more succulent and tasty than supermarket varieties. Runner Beans also provide an attractive focal point for any kitchen garden. In fact you could easily grow Runner Beans within a cottage garden. Once established they can grow very rapidly and are mainly resilient to pests and dieseases.

1. Choose a site in full sun.
2. Prepare the soil well with organic matter which will help retain moisture and feed the fast growing plants.
3. The plants will need good support, preferably using 6 feet canes. They are best grown together – either in a wigwam effect or in a horizontal line.
4. Once in flower keep well watered. If they are not watered sufficiently they will not pollintate and grow the bean.
5. They will benefit from tomato feed when the beans are forming and growing.
6. Pick the beans regularly to prevent the plant from shutting down production of new beans.
7. Growing time can be just 12 – 13 weeks. Therefore the sowing season can be from April to early June.
8. For early sowing the plants will need complete protection from the frost and sufficient hardening off.
9. There are also dwarf varieties which don’t need staking.

Latin Name of Runner Beans Phaseolus coccineus