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 16°C and 30°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 10 - 20 cm 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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23 May 10, roger cooper (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Where can I buy Runner bean seeds local to Melbourne ?
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24 May 10, (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Diggers Club sell Melbourne-local runners.
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21 May 18, Don (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Email me, I have many at school in Narre Warren South, after years of searching for seeds... Free to a good home, but will need to be picked up :)
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14 Jun 10, Joanna van Kool (Australia - temperate climate)
When the scarlet runner beans die back in Winter, does one cut them back or just let them wither on the trellis?
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02 Jul 10, ken bryan (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
leaves are turning yellow at the bottom of the plants and falling off
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04 Jul 10, Natalie (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Sounds like it is a nitrogen deficiency. treat plants with fish emulsion on foliage and roots. the other thing it could be is bean fly. usually affected plants stems become swollen and cracked and the plants may become yellow. So check for swollen and cracked stems. if it's bean fly, you could try making a batch of garlic and chilli spray and spraying the plants. hth
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14 Oct 10, margaret (Australia - temperate climate)
i love beans.but i cant find the chinese long beans .for ready to plant?
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10 Nov 10, (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Tip for scarlet runner beans grow them in late November and grow them up a wigwam with 3-8 bamboo stakes. What is the best variety of climbing bean for yield?
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02 Dec 10, Graham (Australia - temperate climate)
I have Scarlet runner beans growing and they appear to be very healthy there are lots of flowers and they are not dropping off.However they are not setting any beans in any worth while quanties, very few bees visit the flowers. Are there any suggestions as to what the cause may be.
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11 Dec 10, Martin (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Graham, I had the same problem in Adelaide, great flowers no beans. I attributed it to Adelaide being too hot. My father-in-law in Warrnambool used to hose his runner beans with cold water to try and trick them into setting.
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Showing 11 - 20 of 259 comments
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From a publication (University of Mass) CORRECTIVE ACTION IS: 1. Rotate bean with non-host crops. 2.Plow under infected crop residues. 3.Eliminate volunteer bean plants. 4.Select planting dates and schedule irrigation to avoid long periods of leaf wetness when temperatures are warm. 5.Disinfect poles in production of pole beans. 5.Avoid over application of nitrogen and ensure adequate potassium fertilization. 6.Plant resistant cultivars. ==> your issue is the rust sort of creates these pustules that allow the rust to survive over winter, or during crop rotations. You need to ensure you dig the old plants deep into the soil, clean your equipment (poles, garden gloves etc.). I would be inclined to use SULPHUR -- "Sulphur Dust Fungicide and Miticide" is usually what it is called. This dust can be sprinkled all over, on the plants etc. or can be mixed with water and sprayed. Also avoid planting beans in areas of "stagnant air" the plants need to be able to dry out -- in other words water on the plants (moist leaves and stems) are great breeding grounds for your rust. It's actually not a difficult problem to resolve, once you know what needs to be done -- remove and bury infected leaves, and/or sprinkle with sulphur dust, mitigate moisture retention (get the air flow going -- maybe you change up the arrangement of planting so the air flows through the plants and whisks away the moisture.

- Faith Celeste Archer

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