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

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

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	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

23 Jun 21, Anonymous (USA - Zone 10a climate): Soak over night - up to 12 hours then plant.
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16 Feb 21, Tom ( Queensland - sub tropical climate ) (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I have been told that SCARLET RUNNER beans, will usually fail to flower and fruit in my sub-tropical Brisbane location, presumably owing to temperatures and humidity. If this is correct for usual planting times, so should I try growing them in our Autumn and Winter period ?
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17 Feb 21, Anonymous (Australia - temperate climate): There are times of the year to plant a crop and times when not to. I don't plant beans in the autumn/winter - why because the bean fly kills them. Late summer autumn is usually a wet time with rain - rain is the giver of life to most things, plants insects disease. So now I grow my beans from late winter - no bean fly no problems. In sub tropical don't expect to grow much over summer - weather extremes are too hazardous for most plants. I live near Bundy.
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17 Feb 21, Steve (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I have given up on Scarlet Runners, had no success in Brisbane, some success in Southern NSW and good crop in Canberra. That should indicate the weather they like :-) I now grow dwarf beans only, fewer pests, bigger crops, no need for frames or teepees.
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09 Feb 21, McDaniel (USA - Zone 10a climate): Can you start pole beans inside instead of outside. My ground not ready yet
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15 Feb 21, Anonymous (USA - Zone 5a climate): You have to be very careful growing seedlings indoors. New seedlings chase the sunlight and become very long (leggy) and thin stalked and therefore weak. Easy to snap the stalk. I germinate seed under shade cloth part day in sun, part day in shade. Two days after germination I take the shade cloth off. I move the table to vary the hours of sunlight and shade depending on how small/big seedlings are and what the temperature is.
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25 Oct 20, Kenneth Daunt (Australia - temperate climate): I have some Purple King, first time with these, and they are climbing up the frame very well. I had a suggestion to pinch of the top to encourage them to spread sideways. Is this a good idea? If they keep going, now over 2 m high, I will have to train the leaders dideways or down as they will have run out of support. Cheers.
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03 Jan 21, Pauline (Australia - temperate climate): Is it ok to plant purple king in January
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26 Oct 20, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I have done two plantings of climbing beans recently, 1st crop has just finished and 2nd crop I'm picking now. I have trellises 2.4m long and wire mess 2m high. I plant seeds about 15-20cm apart. Didn't take them long to grow 2m tall. Mine just flapped in the wind and then started growing down the trellis. I'm picking 1kg each 2-3 days. So I don't think you need to pinch or train them sideways etc.
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08 Aug 20, Debby Elizabeth Arnold (USA - Zone 9a climate): I have seed packets of scarlet runner beans and wish to know if I can plant them now, August. It is hot: 87-90 degrees Fahrenheit. But cooling into Sept, and lovely, mid 80’s. Also we are fairly close to the ocean (Fernandina Beach) on 4th dune ridge, but have potting mix and Black Cow. Citrus and basil grow great in our yard. Have a spot there gets mostly full sun. Also my Purple Hyacinth, planted in June were doing great until the husband put weed killer on them and some lilies. Will they come back, or must I replant seeds? This is a first for me. Thank you!
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Short pods on healthy plants could be caused by poor pollination due to heat. Beans are a warm season crop but pollination and bean set on climbers like Scarlet Runner can be reduced on very hot days. I have seen Scarlet Runner with some good pods then a gap on the flower spike where the beans didn't set pods then more pods. Beans are self pollinating and don't set on very hot days. I presume the plants are growing from a root that has been in the ground for a number of seasons. As you suggest, regularly picking is a must to stop beans going tough. Cutting back the tops of the runners will reduce your harvest in the short term but will encourage denser growth and may make the plants more manageable. I trust this helps. Maybe another reader has some ideas to solve your problem.

- John

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GardenGrow

Keep your garden growing - see what to plant right now

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

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

Your comments and tips

GardenGrow

Keep your garden growing - see what to plant right now

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

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

Your comments and tips

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