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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04 Feb 15, Shamim (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Green locust is eating away pomegranate leaves. How do I get rid of them?
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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
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16 Oct 14, Kevin Wilson (Australia - temperate climate)
when do I start fertilising scarlet runners
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03 Sep 14, Sivuyile Madliwa (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
I am looking for fine green beans suitable for green house production.
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02 Aug 14, nokwanda (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
Are Hannes seeds still available? I also need scarlet runner beans desperately. Please help.
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21 Dec 14, Chris (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
The "Painted Lady" is a runner bean like scarlet runners. Sold by organicseed.co.za
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09 May 14, Pat O'Donnell (Australia - temperate climate)
the edge of some of the leaves appear to be wilting or being attacked by some bug
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20 Apr 14, tyler (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I live in Hobart tasmania can I plant my beans now?
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28 Mar 14, kwoba lawrence Juma (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Am actually a Kenyan, i've used south Africa because there was no option for Kenya, and its in Africa. Am doing a project on the performance of climbing beans in different soils, as my undergraduate project. i would like to have your advice about the same. am a Kenya, carrying out the project in Eldoret region of kenya.
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18 Feb 14, Robyn (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
If I can add to my own question, I have just found some tiny black and white bugs with very long antennae on the leaves of the plants, and tiny little holes in the leaves. I've tentatively identified the bugs on the Net as coon bugs, but can't find any info on how to get rid of them. Has anyone had any experience of these?
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Showing 171 - 180 of 261 comments
See comments for all plants

Beans fix their own nitrogen, which if you like to companion plant (and some people do), the beans don't compete for the nitrogen. Some studies indicate the the beans assist (perk) the other plants by giving them nitrogen WITHOUT over supplying nitrogen - and too much nitrogen can be a problem for some plants (corn in particular). The standard North American Indian Three sisters planting is: Corn, beans and squash. This combination dates back ........ probably centuries and it has been around a long time for good reason: Corn is actually fairly WEAK rooted when young; corn can uprooted fairly easily when it starts growing. Squash on the other hand is a rooting power house. The squash stabilizes the corn. The squash with it's large leaves ALSO shades the soil (all plants that I know of like shaded soil, keeping their roots cooler -- even full sun plants want shaded soil). The beans then scamper up the corn, and perk the corn and squash with nitrogen. What your asking is can I take this classic all time threesome and substitute sweet potatoes for the squash. I really can't see a reason why you could not. It sounds reasonable. Further more Blistering on sweet potatoes can be prevented by adding Borax to soil - and corn loves boron (boron gives corn not only better tassels but better yields). Additionally, both corn and sweet potatoes need and love potassium. So when I think about it... it sounds like a really good combination. Best of Luck.

- Celeste Archer

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