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              

(Best months for growing Beans - climbing in USA - Zone 5a 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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22 Apr 16, Robyn (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Can I grow snake beans in blue Mts?
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17 Mar 16, Trevor Watson (Australia - arid climate)
Have a trellis 6ft high and the runners are growing above . do I pinch off or let them come back on trellis and grow downwards. or wind breaks off.. Trevor Watson..
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25 Jan 16, Vanessa (Australia - tropical climate)
I am growing the English variety of green runner beans, apparently the easiest to grow.........but something is eating them, they flower beautifully, little beans appear and then I look the next day and there is only a little green stem where they were. Perhaps I am watering them too much? Are they lacking in nutrients? Can I net them all day? They originally had the tiny black fly but sprayed them and they went. Grasshoppers are vicious here but I never see them. Please, any advice would be a great help to me. Thanks
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25 Oct 16, Ted (Australia - temperate climate)
Like Tomatoes they may need a feed, try Tomato fertiliser to help the flowers setI find it helps. Also shade from afternoon Sun.
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06 Feb 16, Bert (Australia - temperate climate)
Grew a great crop of dwarf beans and then planted the same bean as you. Nothing!!! Beautiful big bushes Jack would have been proud of. Thinking of pulling them out as the flowers drop, or are bitten off. Then this morning for some reason I see lots of little beans growing. No tip here for you, but perhaps food? for thought.
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04 Jan 16, kiconco prima (Australia - temperate climate)
how many weeks do climbing beans take to flower
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03 Jan 16, andrew sgears (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have an abundence of flowers but have only had 2 beans so far.Have tried most things.I am at a loss
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27 Aug 15, Tony (Australia - temperate climate)
If you r having problems with your scarlet runners flowering but not producing beans ,in late afternoons when the sun has gone ,give your vines a light misting with the hose ,making particular attention to fine spray all the flowers ,you will find this will work even after one or two applications ,avoid spraying if it's too hot ,and never in the heat of the day ,give it a go .Tony
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04 Aug 15, Chris (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Might be curl grubs in the soil, dig deep down and see. There is a spray to get rid of them.
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01 Aug 15, mary farmer (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
why do my scarlet runners that have grown very well in the green house, not borne any flowers, they got to a height of 5/6 feet and looked very healthy.?
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Showing 161 - 170 of 263 comments
See comments for all plants

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. naish@iinet.net.au. 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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