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 P P

(Best months for growing Beans - climbing in South Africa - Summer rainfall 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
  • 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 Beans - climbing

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

Your comments and tips

24 Nov 19, Felix Hodgson (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
I have blue Peter bean seeds. Free. Postage at your cost.
02 May 21, Sue Hedden (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
Hi Felix, where about are you? We are also in sub-tropical climate, south coast of KZN, but often come to Durban We would LOVE some seeds! Hope we are not too late! Sue, 0721933945
29 Sep 18, Rowan (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
What type do pinto bean belong to??
05 Dec 16, Heather Sterling (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
I really would like to obtain some of the purple climbing bean (Blue Peter?) seeds. They also had scarlet flowers . I last grew them almost 50 years ago and have been looking for them on and off ever since.
31 Jan 15, Peter O'Mant (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
Please can you tell me where I can buy scarlet runner bean seed for my small vegetable garden
03 Sep 14, Sivuyile Madliwa (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
I am looking for fine green beans suitable for green house production.
02 Aug 14, nokwanda (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
Are Hannes seeds still available? I also need scarlet runner beans desperately. Please help.
21 Dec 14, Chris (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
The "Painted Lady" is a runner bean like scarlet runners. Sold by organicseed.co.za
24 Jan 14, Cynthia Lazarus (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
Hi there! Could you give me Hannes Gous contact details as I would really love to plant some yardlong beans for my soup kitchen! Tks !
21 Oct 13, (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
I am interested to buy some seeds. Bhat Thohoyandou South Africa
Showing 1 - 10 of 21 comments

Each different area of Australia has its particular requirements to be successful. This info is generalized for growing veggies. 1. All day direct sun is best - things just don't grow without it. 2. Good soil and replenish with compost or manures etc. each year. Give your soil a break from crops for a few months each year and add the compost and work it in. Dig it over a few times. 3 Regular watering - small plants - light, regular watering - bigger plants - fewer waterings but more volume of water. Then you need to know which plants to plant each season. I plant beans in April and the bean fly kills the young plants. I planted about 2 1/2 mths ago and have great plants now - just starting to pick them now. I have trouble with Zucchini and Capsicums some times of the year. Capsicums need a certain temperature to pollinate I recently read. I have trouble with my Zucchinis - no bees to pollinate. I am doing it by hand at the moment. Next year I'm going to plant some flowers in my other gardens to attract the bees. I explained in a post the other day to go to The Seed Collection website and print off the Sowing Chart. It is a guide for different climates. Go on the internet and type in "How to grow ------" and read up about it. Look for Australian websites. Gardening Australia etc. Look up seed selling companies and read about how and when to grow different veggies. I'm going on a holiday tomorrow for 2 weeks - will have my computer with me. Email me if you like. [email protected]. When I come home we can talk on the phone.

- Mike

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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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