Beans - Runner

Type: Vegetable

Rotation Group: 3, Legumes


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LADY DI

Red Flowered. Because the seeds develop only slowly in the beans, this delicious, stringless variety can be picked over a long period with no loss of quality or texture. Excellent for both the kitchen and the show bench, Lady Di also has good heat tolerance.
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SCARLET EMPEROR

The variety everyone knows - probably because it is reliable, crops well and produces beans of outstandingly good flavour. There are better strains available, but none which is as well loved or as widely grown as this great old performer.
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ST GEORGE

A winner of the prestigious RHS AGM, the bicolour flowers make it ornamental enough for the flower garden. The crisp, tender, fleshy, tasty pods are produced in clusters for quick, easy picking.
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CELEBRATION

Pink Flowered. If you cannot find room in the vegetable garden for a Celebration, try growing a 'wigwam' or two of this attractive, pink flowered runner in the flower border. But it's not just a pretty flower! This British-bred winner of an AGM from the RHS produces plenty of long, succulent, fleshy pods up to 30cm/12in long.

Site, Soil and Preparation

Runner beans prefer a warm, sheltered, rich, well drained soil that has been prepared in advance in autumn with generous amounts of garden compost or manure. They also need a neutral pH soil and will require the addition of lime if the soil is acidic.

Indoor Sowing

Runner beans can be sown direct outside in warm weather, but are usually started indoors in root trainers or 75mm (3in) pots at a depth of 50mm (2in).

Outdoor Sowing

In warm weather beans can be sown outdoors, usually from mid-May, with 2 beans together at a depth of 50mm (2in), 200mm (8in) apart with rows 450mm (1 1/2ft) apart.

Thinning

Thinning of bean plants should not be needed if planted at the correct spacings.

Transplanting

Transplant indoor sown runner beans to their outdoor positions, after hardening off, in late May or early June and plant at the same spacings as given for outdoor sowing.

Care

Wigwams or rows of 2400mm (8ft) canes will be needed to support runner beans. Pinch out the tops of the plants when they reach the top of the canes. Water plants frequently, especially during hot spells, and more generously when pods start to form.

Harvest

Harvest the pods whilst still young as soon as they reach 150mm - 200mm (6in - 8in). Pick the beans regularly before they have a chance to become stringy and tough.