How to grow runner beans

What vegetable plot would be complete without a crop of tasty runner beans? They are very easy to grow, establish quickly, produce a plentiful supply of greens and also add nitrogen to the surrounding soil.

Growing runner beans from seed

If you are planning to grow your runner’s from seed, get it done now (May). You can avoid disappointment by ‘chitting’ your beans by evenly spacing them on damp cloth or paper, sealed in an air-tight container and place in an airing cupboard. They will need checking daily and as soon they start to germinate (or the root is about 1 inch long), place each bean individually into pots of of good potting compost. Place them in a warm, sunny position, away from the risk of frost.

Hardening off your plants

I know it seems a real chore, but hardening off is essential. Whether you have grown your plants from seed or bought them from your local garden centre, you will need to harden off your runner beans before planting them out after the risk of frost has past. If you don’t, the shock (change in temperature) could weaken or even kill them.

Start off by placing your plants outside in the middle of the day for a couple of hours and gradually increase this amount of time, day by day. After a minimum of two weeks, your plants should be strong enough to leave out.

Providing support

Most people prefer the traditional method of building an 8ft high ridge supports for their runner bean plants. This involves placing stick or bamboo in rows a few foot apart, tying the ends (tops) together and fastening horizontal supports. I use this method myself, but there is no harm in being creative. You could try supporting your beans over wigwams, trellises or even have them climbing up and over your garden shed or garage. As long at the bean plants have something to coil around and good deep soil to grow in, they should be fairly happy.

Preparing the ground

Your plants will benefit from good soil – plenty of organic matter and a general organic fertiliser. Runner beans like ground to be slightly moist, so I always dig a 10 inch trench under the site where I aim to plant and line it will a few sheets of news paper to retain some moisture. I then pour a fair amount of water in the trench before back filling it.

Planting your runner beans

Now that the site is ready for them, ensure that the soil is nice a loose and plant your runner beans; one every foot or so along the line of your supports. Before planting, I like to gently loosen the roots by ‘tickling’ them to encourage them to leave the confined of the pot-shaped compost ball and branch out into the surround soil. This will help them to become established and grow into strong plants. Water well until fully established.

After care & cropping

Ensure that your plants are twining around your supports. Sometimes, loosely tying them into place may be helpful, especially at the beginning to encourage them to find they way up the canes. As soon as your runner bean plants reach the top of your supports (and they can do this at an incredible rate), cut or ‘pinch-out’ the top shoots to encourage growth lower down. This will make for a much heavier crop.

Pick your young beans on a regular basis to encourage more growth. If you leave them for too long, then you will find not only will your yield be lower than possible, but also the beans themselves will become ‘stringy’ when cooked and eaten. I would suggest you check/harvest your beans on a daily basis if possible.

Varieties of runner bean to look out for

Runner Bean ‘Moonlight’ – Phaseolus coccineus: A major breakthrough in British runner bean breeding, offering predominantly self setting plants for a guaranteed crop. This profusely white-flowering variety combines the valuable characteristics of French beans with those of runner beans, resulting in extra smooth, very fleshy, stringless pods up to 25cm (10″) long, with a great texture and true runner bean taste. The vastly improved flower setting of Runner Bean ‘Moonlight’ means an earlier and continual crop even during poor weather. Height: 3m (10’). Spread: 30cm (12″).

Runner Bean Scarlet Empire: Bred from Scarlet Emperor, a kitchen garden favourite for over 100 years, Runner Bean Scarlet Empire produces a longer, smoother, more slender pod which are stringless, but is still as early, tasty and productive as its forebear. The plants are vigorous and quick to emerge – essential qualities for early sowings.

Runner Bean ‘Enorma’- Phaseolus coccineus: Reliable favourite. Long pods.Huge yields. T&M’s easy starter plants are expertly grown, taking away all of the worry of raising your own. Delivered ready for planting so that you can enjoy bigger, earlier and tastier vegetables. Our quality vegetable plants will be despatched at the correct time for planting. Please note: Delivery is subject to plant size, adverse growing conditions during production may delay despatch schedules.

Runner Bean ‘White Lady’ – Phaseolus coccineus: A premier variety in every way. The pure white flowers of Runner Bean White Lady are less prone to being picked by birds, so the resulting crop is much greater. Plus, Runner Bean White Lady sets better than any other when it comes to high temperatures. The long, mid green pods with white seeds hang in numerous clusters, and are both smooth and stringless. The result is a delicious vegetable which can be sliced or eaten whole with a garnish of butter.

Runner Bean ‘Wisley Magic’- Phaseolus coccineus: Wisley Magic won an RHS AGM in the 1999 Runner Bean trials and was voted ‘The Best on Trial’ as it produced the heaviest yield of quality beans over a long picking season. Runner Bean Wisley Magic has attractive bright red flowers produce long smooth, slender pods, easily reaching 35cm (14in) long. Although not stringless, Wisley Magic has a low fibre content and a superior flavour – that ‘old fashioned’ runner bean taste. Seeds are in the RHS Vegetable Collection.

Runner Bean ‘Goliath’ Heritage – Phaseolus coccineus: This reliable red flowered heritage variety is a prolific grower. Runner Bean ‘Goliath’ produces long, slender, straight pods over a long picking reason. Runner beans are a good source of Vitamin C, folate and iron, and have a high fibre content. Also suitable for freezing. Height: 3m (10’). Spread: 30cm (12″).

Runner Bean ‘Crusader’ Heritage – Phaseolus coccineus: A reliable, red flowered, heirloom favourite producing a high yield of long pods of superb flavour which snap readily when young and tender. Runner Bean ‘Crusader’ must be picked regularly for optimum yields. Runner beans are a good source of Vitamin C, folate and iron, and have a high fibre content. Also suitable for freezing. Height: 3m (10’). Spread: 30cm (12″).

Runner Bean White Apollo – Phaseolus coccineus: British breeding at its best. This decorative white-flowered variety is ignored by the birds so its blossoms are left intact and maximum crops can be enjoyed! Runner Bean White Apollo produces long, straight, smooth, stringless pods up to 37cm (15 inches) long produced over a long period. Prefers well drained, moist, rich conditions.