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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04 Sep 13, NICK BESTER (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
Hannes, Could you please help Nick with some seeds? His email ad is as above. He lives in the west coast at Langebaan. Please email if you have any yard long bean seeds. Regards Ruth Bester ( We do not publish email addresses unless they are part of the comment, Liz Gardenate)
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22 Jun 13, psalm (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
PLS HELP ME OUT I WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT PLANTING OF RUNNER BEANS IN NIGERIA
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06 Jun 13, Anna (Australia - temperate climate)
I have bean seedlings which have been germinated and have 2-4 leaves on each. They are currently inside (a living fundraiser plant). It is time to plant them, but I have just realized it is not the right season. Is there any way to grow them in Melbourne, Victoria this time of year??
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05 Jun 13, (Australia - temperate climate)
My climbing beans' leaves are starting to yellow, dry and drop. At this time of the year the reticulation has been turn off but we've had a bit of rain and I'm still watering daily (when it hasn't rained ) and feeding fortnightly with Seasol. The beans are cropping so well and I want them to continue. Am I watering too much? The ground seems just moist.
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25 Apr 13, Sylvia (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
You can get runner beans from Green Harvest they also have the stringless ones as well.
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24 Apr 13, Louis Weyer (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
Where can I get Scarlet Runner Bean seed?
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18 Apr 13, Scott hunt (Australia - temperate climate)
Someone said I should follow scarlet runner beans with garlic. This conflicts with other advice: any suggestions?
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30 Apr 13, Sustainable Jill (Australia - temperate climate)
General rule: don't grow legumes (beans, peas) with members of the onion family (onions, garlic etc). You can grow them together but they won't necessarily thrive. Also, beans do all their growing in summer whereas garlic starts in winter and ends in summer...so there will probably only be a small period of overlap ;)
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15 Apr 13, Judith Reudavey (Australia - temperate climate)
I am growing beans from seeds a friend gave me. They have climbed and spread and the purple flowers produce many pods, which we are eating. They don't appear to be scarlett or hiacynth climbing beans, but have a similar habit. I'd like advice for using them - freezing or using in preserves. Thank you
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09 Apr 13, derek howes (Australia - temperate climate)
where can ibuy runner bean seed , as grown in uk ?
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Showing 201 - 210 of 261 comments
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There are two main things to think about when practicing crop rotation. The first; what condition (nutrition, minerals, tilth) will this crop leave the soil in. In this case your current crop is beans -- they fix their own nitrogen, so their roots will be full of nitrogen nodules (little white bubbles) and provided you just turn the roots into the ground -- the nitrogen will be available for the next crop. So your next crop CAN BE a heavy nitrogen feeder -- there should be lots of nitrogen there. Also beans do a surprisingly good job at breaking up the soil...maybe breaking up is too strong a word -- beans leave the soil very light and well blended with good aeration. Beans are not heavy feeders and therefore you don't need to worry about them depleting the soil of anything in particular, a basic application of manure should restore things. -- The Second concern of crop rotation is ; pests -- what pests did the beans attract ? Generally beans attract slugs and the sort of insects that feed on tender leaves (as young beans have very nice tender leaves) -- so ideally you want to plant something that these insects/slugs don't feed on -- something like tomatoes (their leaves are not suitable -- or tend not to be suitable for slugs). Then review what you would like to plant -- and determine the plant that best suits the conditions. Nightshades tend to be the most typical choice to follow beans -- Nightshade is a family of plants that includes tomatoes, eggplant, potatoes, and peppers. Since you are probably already set up with poles - I might go for indeterminate tomatoes (which are really vines and require support).

- Celeste Archer

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. GardenGrow is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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