Runner bean: planting, location & harvesting scarlet runner beans
As the name suggests, the scarlet runner bean is a real eye-catcher due to its fiery red flowers – but they are not the only ones that attract everyone’s attention. The seeds of the runner bean also have an unusual colour pattern.
Growing runner beans (Phaseolus coccineus) is a peace of cake and will reward you with a harvest if you pay attention to a few points. How to proceed when planting runner beans and what else to consider when choosing a location, as well as harvesting, are all contained in this article.
Contents
Runner bean: origin and characteristics
The runner bean is also known, among other things, as scarlet runner bean, multiflora bean and butter bean. Originally, the climbing plant comes from South America and finally arrived in Europe in the 17th century. It belongs to the legume family (Fabaceae) and is closely related to some other types of beans such as the French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). In countries with a mild climate, the runner bean can even be cultivated perennially, but in our latitudes it is only an annual.
With the help of the left-turning shoots, the herbaceous climbing plant can reach heights of 2 to 4, but sometimes even 7 meters in a short time. The medium green leaves are pinnate in threes on the petioles, which in turn are alternate and arranged helically along the stem. The leaves can be moved into different positions via joints controlled by the pressure of the cell sap within each cell. With the help of glandular hairs on the underside of the leaf, the plant absorbs water from the air.
From June to September, the runner bean bears intense red, hermaphroditic flowers. There are 6 to 10 of them on one flowerhead, which grows between 25 and 35 cm long. The mirror-symmetrical flowers consist of a calyx with two lips, a short flag, wings, shuttle, ovary and pistil. The components form the flower shape typical of papilionaceous flower (Faboideae). Due to the fact that the runner bean flowers are self-sterile, another plant is needed for pollination.
The green legumes that develop from the fertilised flowers grow up to 25 cm long. The kidney-shaped seeds they contain are about 2.5 cm in size and patterned brown, red, white or black and purple, depending on the variety.
The best runner bean varieties
Below we present the best and most popular varieties of scarlet runner beans. Among them are red, white and bicolour flowering varieties with special properties. The varieties ˈBonelaˈ and ˈMelangeˈ are Styrian runner beans, which are a speciality in Styria.
- ˈWhite Giantˈ: This variety is a high-yielding, fast-flowering and white-flowering variety. It forms flat, fleshy pods about 30 cm long, which are popular as string beans because of their tenderness. The grains are pure white.
- ˈAward Winnerˈ: This robust, red-flowering variety is a very high-yielding amateur gardener’s variety. It forms long, fleshy pods and has a tall habit. The ‘Prize Winner’ is used either as a pod, sprouted bean or dry bean. The seeds are mottled purple-black.
- ˈScarlet Emperorˈ: Even in harsh and rainy locations, this robust, historic and red-flowered variety can be cultivated. The tasty pods have threads that can be easily removed. Due to its vigorous growth, this high-yielding variety is well suited as a privacy screen.
- ˈHestiaˈ: The features of this variety include compact, tendrilless growth, similar to that of a bushbean with a height of about 45 cm, and pretty red and white flowers. The unusual growth habit makes ˈHestiaˈ ideal for cultivation in hanging baskets or window boxes.
- ˈLady Diˈ: Dark red flowering, stringless bean ‘Lady Diˈ is resistant to bean mosaic virus and burn spot, as well as very high yielding. The fine aromatic pods of this variety are extra long.
- ˈPainted Ladyˈ: The ˈPainted Ladyˈ is a very old variety from England. Its flowers are bicolour in red and white. The decorative flower dress makes it excellent as a privacy screen. The young, tender, stringless pods are used as string beans, but also for canning or freezing.
- ˈTenderstarˈ: This robust, decorative showpiece bean has red-apricot flowers. Their tasty pods are stringless when young. The fruits grow about 20 cm long and the plant about 3 m high.
- ˈBonelaˈ: The large-grained runner bean ˈBonelaˈ is one of the popular Styrian runner beans. It grows vigorously with lush, red flowers. The grains are mottled black-purple and have good swelling properties. This excellent tasting runner bean is suitable for industrial processing.
Growing runner beans
Because the hardy beans are not very demanding of their location, they do well in most soils. However, to ensure that you get strong and vital plants with high flowering and yield, we give you the following advice on the optimal location, as well as the correct sowing and culture of scarlet runner beans.
The right location
The best place for runner beans is in a sunny position. Growth in light partial shade would also still be possible. Since runner beans do better in damp and cool weather, locations with standing heat in midsummer cause the flowers to simply fall off and no pods are formed. Therefore, an airy place is preferred. The soil should be well-drained, loose and rich in nutrients. A compacted subsoil is therefore ideally loosened deeply with a digging fork before planting. The permeability can be increased by adding sand. To increase the nutrient content, mix in some more compost.
The beans can be well cultivated even on the balcony. For this purpose, runner beans are grown in the balcony box or in a container. With the tall varieties, a climbing option is absolutely necessary here. Dwarf varieties such as ˈHestiaˈ do not require further climbing support and are therefore ideal. The planter should be equipped with a layer of expanded clay, so that water does not accumulate. A high-quality, permeable vegetable soil such as our Plantura Organic Tomato & Vegetable Compost is ideal for filling. Due to the mixture with various vegetable fibres and crushed expanded clay, our soil has a loose structure. The organic bio-fertiliser in it covers the basic nutritional needs of the beans. The quality compost contained also releases nutrients even in the long term.
- Perfect for tomatoes & other vegetables such as chillies, courgettes & more
- For strong & healthy plant growth as well as an abundant vegetable harvest
- Peat-free & organic soil: CO2-saving composition
Sowing and propagation
When sowing scarlet runner bean seeds there are two options: Either the seeds are sown directly in the open ground or the plantlets are grown indoors. The second method can give a small head start in time or protect the young plants from slug predation. You can discover how to successfully combat snails in our special article. Germination temperature should be between 15 and 20 °C, then the first seedlings will be seen after about 7 to 14 days.
Outdoor sowing
- Time: From mid-May, at soil temperature of 8 – 10 °C.
- 6 – 8 seeds per planting site
- Planting depth: 2 – 3 cm
- Planting distance: 30 – 40 cm
- Cover with soil and water
Propagation in the house
- Time: From mid-April
- 1 – 2 seeds per small pot
- Planting depth: 2 – 3 cm
- Cover with substrate and keep slightly moist
- Plant outdoors from mid-May
Tip: To speed up the germination process a bit, you can soak the runner bean seeds in water overnight.
Do scarlet runner beans need support?
Tall runner bean varieties definitely need support around which they will wind. Suitable for this purpose are trellis, stretched twine or hazel and willow rods. The support is installed before sowing.
Planting scarlet runner beans as a screening plant
The use of runner beans as a screening plant is widespread and has a decorative effect. Due to its large leaves, it forms a dense wall of foliage with bright flowers. Often, the showpiece bean can simply grow along the already existing fences or on self-erected trellises.
Tip: A great playground for children can also be created with the help of the climbing plants. For this purpose, a tepee is assembled from willow branches, which is then overrun by the scarlet runner bean.
Plant care
If priority is given to flowering rather than fruiting, then all faded parts should be removed regularly. If, on the other hand, the aim is to achieve a high yield of pods, the faded fruiting stalks must be left standing.
Especially on hot days and sunny locations, the runner bean needs a lot of water. Especially in containers, it should be watered again as soon as the top layer of substrate is completely dry. As far as fertilisation is concerned, enriching the soil with compost at planting is generally sufficient, since legumes generally have the ability to fix nitrogen at their roots through a symbiotic relationship with nodule bacteria, thereby accumulating nutrients in the soil themselves. Among other things, our Plantura Organic Enriched Compost is also suitable for compost fertilisation. Its humus content ensures high biological activity in the soil and increased fertility in the long term.
- Perfect for all crops and ornamental plants with a high nutrient requirement & for raised beds
- Improves soil quality & promotes healthy root growth
- Peat-free & organic soil: CO2-saving composition
Harvesting, storing and using runner beans
Since there are several ways to harvest and use runner beans, we explain the differences below.
Harvesting and use
The pods of the scarlet runner bean can reach considerable sizes, but usually they then become very fibrous and are no longer so tender. For consumption as a string bean or freshly steamed vegetable, it is therefore best to harvest the pods when they are young. About July, these can be harvested continuously to promote further growth.
The pods or beans must always be cooked before consumption. They are also very suitable for preservation by canning or freezing.
Drying scarlet runner beans
If it is not the pods that are to be harvested for consumption, but the beans, then you must allow the beans to fully mature on the plant and dry. Then they are picked off in dry weather and the beans are taken out of the pod. The runner beans can also be stored well in this dry state. However, before they can now be used for cooking, they must be soaked in water overnight, after which the cooking time of runner beans is up to two hours.
Are runner beans edible or poisonous?
In the raw state, the fruits of the runner bean are poisonous and that goes both for humans and animals. Like many other bean species, scarlet runner bean pods contain the protein phasin, which can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, and gastrointestinal distress if consumed in certain amounts. Cooking the pods destroys the phasin and the runner bean is then edible.
