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Growing Climbing beans, also Pole beans, Runner beans, Scarlet Runners

(Phaseolus vulgaris, Phaseolus coccineus)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
				P

(Best months for planting Climbing beans in USA - Zone 5a regions)

P = Plant direct in garden where they are to grow.

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 16°C and 30°C. (Show °F/in)
Space plants: 10 - 20 cm apart
Harvest in 9-11 weeks.
Compatible with: Sweetcorn, spinach, lettuce, summer savory, dill, carrots, brassicas, beets, radish, strawberry, cucumbers, zucchini
Avoid growing with: Alliums (Chives, leek, garlic, onions), Florence fennel

A few young Scarlet Runners
Purple climbing beans

Grow beans up fences, trellis, sweet corn, trees. Almost anywhere can be 'vertically productive'.

Keep well watered and pick regularly to encourage new flowers. Watch out for snails, as they will eat through the stems near ground level, and will completely eat newly sprouted beans. If you have nice new beans plants one day, and none the next, then it is probably slugs or snails.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Climbing beans

Use young in salads - blanch and cool. Will freeze well.

Your comments and tips

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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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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Post a question, comment or tip about Climbing beans

Replying to:

Scarlet Runner beans are perennial (3 to 4 years but loosing vigour each year). Do I let them die back or cut them back after they have finished bearing, and if I cut them back,how close to the ground do I cut them. back to ground level

- Lynne Brogan

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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. Gardenate 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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