Growing Beans - climbing, also Pole beans, Runner beans, Scarlet Runners

Phaseolus vulgaris, Phaseolus coccineus : Fabaceae / the pea or legume family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
                  P P P

(Best months for growing Beans - climbing in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 61°F and 86°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 4 - 8 inches apart
  • Harvest in 9-11 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Sweetcorn, spinach, lettuce, summer savory, dill, carrots, brassicas, beets, radish, strawberry, cucumbers, zucchini, tagates minuta (wild marigold)
  • Avoid growing close to: Alliums (Chives, leek, garlic, onions), Florence fennel

Your comments and tips

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08 Jan 17, Jo Holden (Australia - temperate climate)
Sowed the Blue Lake climbing beans and had success for number of years, it last 2 summers have problems with brown and sparse leaves. Small crop so far..bed was prepared, and have fed them also water from the top..any ideas or just too hot..have planted a second lot and they look alright?
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09 Jan 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Climbing beans do not set well in hot weather. You can have a row of pods form on the flower spike then a few hot days and none will form, then a few cooler days and more beans will form. I can't say much about the brown leaves except it could be the heat. Trust this helps.
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04 Jan 17, Bob Morrow (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Have been growing Scarlet runner beans for 30 years but the past 2 years have not been able to get any flowers leave a loan not one bean plant above 1 foot.We have had up to 20mm rain here in New Plymouth just about every second day so I have put it down to that the ground has been to wet not only but have pulled out only to find Eel worms chewing on the roots.I have gone and brought some new plants from our Mitre 10 hoping these will grow for me.Can you explain as why I have not had any beans the past couple years.
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05 Dec 16, Heather Sterling (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
I really would like to obtain some of the purple climbing bean (Blue Peter?) seeds. They also had scarlet flowers . I last grew them almost 50 years ago and have been looking for them on and off ever since.
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03 Dec 16, Paul A'Barge (USA - Zone 8b climate)
I have had zero luck with climbing beans in zone 8B. I buy the seeds from a local greenhouse/starter and plant - diddly comes up. Next year I am going to start seeds in starter pots and I will transplant those that show up and are healthy. I think the seller of the seeds does not want to bother starting seeds and so keeps old seed around to sell to people who want climbing beans, aka rip off.
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10 Aug 20, Anonymous (USA - Zone 9a climate)
The secret to germinating bean seeds is to plant at the right time, soil temperature that is. Prepare your soil and give it a good wetting. 2-3 days later plant the bean seeds. Give a light watering after planting and then DO NOT WATER AGAIN FOR 4-5 DAYS especially in hot weather. Then just give it a light watering. OVER WATERING WILL CAUSE THE SEEDS TO GO ROTTEN.
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20 Aug 16, Pamela Cox Pamela Margaret Cox (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hobart is cool of course but sunny i summer, last year the hot spell did help loss of many beans during thode few days
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14 Oct 16, Dave (Australia - temperate climate)
suggest you use potash to promote flowering and water the climbers from the top down. Water in the evening once the heat is less. Scarlet Runners do not like hot weather.
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22 Apr 16, Robyn (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Can I grow snake beans in blue Mts?
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17 Mar 16, Trevor Watson (Australia - arid climate)
Have a trellis 6ft high and the runners are growing above . do I pinch off or let them come back on trellis and grow downwards. or wind breaks off.. Trevor Watson..
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Showing 151 - 160 of 261 comments
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Each different area of Australia has its particular requirements to be successful. This info is generalized for growing veggies. 1. All day direct sun is best - things just don't grow without it. 2. Good soil and replenish with compost or manures etc. each year. Give your soil a break from crops for a few months each year and add the compost and work it in. Dig it over a few times. 3 Regular watering - small plants - light, regular watering - bigger plants - fewer waterings but more volume of water. Then you need to know which plants to plant each season. I plant beans in April and the bean fly kills the young plants. I planted about 2 1/2 mths ago and have great plants now - just starting to pick them now. I have trouble with Zucchini and Capsicums some times of the year. Capsicums need a certain temperature to pollinate I recently read. I have trouble with my Zucchinis - no bees to pollinate. I am doing it by hand at the moment. Next year I'm going to plant some flowers in my other gardens to attract the bees. I explained in a post the other day to go to The Seed Collection website and print off the Sowing Chart. It is a guide for different climates. Go on the internet and type in "How to grow ------" and read up about it. Look for Australian websites. Gardening Australia etc. Look up seed selling companies and read about how and when to grow different veggies. I'm going on a holiday tomorrow for 2 weeks - will have my computer with me. Email me if you like. [email protected]. When I come home we can talk on the phone.

- Mike

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