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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06 Apr 20, Anon (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Go to a seed selling website and look through the beans seeds they sell, you will probably find what you grew. Try Boondie Seeds or Eden Seeds.
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27 Jan 20, Al Rankin (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi, I planted seeds in December, but although the plant continues to grow, to date, I have not had any flowers? I have previously grown them in the same vicinity very successfully. Any ideas will be gratefully accepted. Thanks
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29 Jan 20, Anon (New Zealand - temperate climate)
If the soil is very rich they would probably produce a lot of growth before flowering. I had climbing beans in a new rich garden bed and they grew to about 1.2-1.5m before flowering. Plants would have gone to 3m if the trellis went that high.
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31 Jan 20, Al Rankin (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Thanks for your reply. It gives me some confidence in the plants!!! Cheers Al
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03 Feb 20, Al Rankin (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Great News. I was out this evening watering the Vegies. And what did I find, a number of Red Flowers on my Beans! Thanks for your support!
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12 Jan 20, Allison (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Can I plant seed of scarlet runners now, January, and expect them to produce beans?
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15 Jan 20, Anon (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Go to the top of the page and look in the calendar months for the Green cells with a white P.
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07 Sep 19, Sailesh Gajurel (New Zealand - temperate climate)
As well as i am planning to grow snake beans on my garden this year sowing seeds on what interval shall i do seedling for continuous supply of beans throught the season
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09 Sep 19, Anon (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Water the garden the day before you are going to plant the seeds. Put the seeds in a glass of water the night before you are going to plant them. Plant the seeds the next day and give a light watering. DO NOT water again for 4 days. Then give a light watering each second day - depending on your soil type.
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09 Sep 19, Anon (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
About each 4-5 weeks.
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Showing 11 - 20 of 36 comments
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Hi Jo, We have several varieties of Runners here in the US (including white half runner and pink half runner) that are usually dried then stored for over winter use. Maybe they are just more common in the mid-southern area of the US? The are my personal favorite bean. We absolutely have snails (smaller than you are used to ,I am sure) and slugs here, but it is drier here than London so they hide under rock and underground until it rains, or you can find them early in the morning if you have a heavy dew on.

- Nell

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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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