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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09 Mar 13, Carol Groves (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
M y climbing beans are climbing beautifully , but no flowers yet.they are about 6 foot high.Carol.
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27 Mar 13, Jade (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
try again with a different batch. I would think you should see flowers even at 2 or 3 foot. I have 'searles' climbing blue.
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08 Dec 12, jolene (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
How high does the bean stalk go and how do I support the stalk al the way? It seems like it will go forever high?? (-: When will I know to remove the whole plant and start from scratch, with other words? How many times do I reap from one plant before I take out the whole plant and plant a new one?
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02 Nov 12, Marcus Rees (Australia - temperate climate)
My French runner beans appear to be doing quite well. They have flowered and are now fruiting, however they are all yet to put out runners and none are taller then 40-50cm. Any ideas?
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08 Oct 12, Stehen King (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Climbing beans - basal leaves are developing dark red/brown spots surrounded by yellow haloes. Leaves then become pale yellow and die.Had this in bean crops in a different bed last year. Help pls. Thanks for any ideas.
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01 Oct 12, amy (Australia - temperate climate)
im growing climbing purple beans and i realy need help about how much sun they need thx HELP
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12 Sep 12, Tracey (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Good day I'm searching for Scarlet runner bean seed, please help thank you Tracey
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30 Sep 12, Brian (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Can help with other varities, contact me on [email protected] and i can give you some suppliers to try
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09 Aug 12, (Canada - Zone 5a Temperate Warm Summer climate)
My Runner Beans look beautiful. Sadly I have only had a few beans and the little ones are withering away or are just little tiny stalks. The leaves have holes in them. I have captured two insects. One looking like an elongated Ladybug is brownish with black Spots and the other a reddish brown with spots. One almost triangular shaped beetle.hard as nails, brown on top and green underneath. Could it be humming birds eating the flowers? Any help with this would be appreciated. I live in Ontario Canada
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15 Mar 12, martin (Australia - temperate climate)
Scarlet runner beans like lots of water and do not seem to set beans untill the days grow shorter in autumn. In Sydney try planting them in well limed soil in mid January so they begin to flower around mid March.
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Showing 211 - 220 of 261 comments
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It depends how cold your winters are; if you've had frost and temps are dropping below 15 degrees at night, it's currently too cold to be growing green beans with great success. I've only grown broad beans in the past and they were quite tolerant of temps into the low 30s, so provided your Spring doesn't heat up too quickly you're probably best waiting until late August or even September. Again, really depends on the nightly lows. Also beware that Seasol is merely a tonic, not a fertiliser (it doesn't have the nutrients in appreciable quantities to make a difference). The same company makes a comprehensive liquid fertiliser called 'Powerfeed' which, combined with Seasol, has worked wonders for my container chillies in the past (the standard version isn't certified organic but there is a certified organic version available now, albeit much diluted compared to the standard version). Depending on how many nutrients are left over from the manure, the lack of regular fertiliser may also be the problem - so I'd try something like Powerfeed or Searles 5-in-1 liquid fertiliser in addition to the Seasol (every week or two). Best of luck

- Prometheus

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