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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19 Apr 12, Richard (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
hi Frank, we had this same problem years ago in England and believe it or not it was the bees,''english bumble bees to be presice'' what they were doing was as they landed on the flower to pollinate it they were going to the back of the flower and biting it,so the result was the flowers fell off without being pollinated..It only happened the one year but it was very strange,i solved it by spraying the flowers with a sugar syrup mixture
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05 Jan 12, Amy Mitchell (Australia - temperate climate)
I’m growing climbing beans in a pot. I have put in stakes for support but haven’t tied them to it yet. I had someone look after my garden while I was away on holiday for a week and when I got back all the leaves are yellow and there’s a lots of little white flying bug things on them. Is it because of the heat that they are going yellow? And what are these bugs?
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18 Dec 11, Joseph (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Good question How long is a piece of string, but seriously climbing given a frame to climb over they are almost limitless, if they have plenty water and nutrients. Just keep harvesting the beans and the bounty should be great, also you may curse them like me with so many beans to harvest, plus they are great hiders behind the foliage, so look hard when picking. Cheers Joe
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17 Dec 11, alby (Australia - temperate climate)
How tall Climbing Beans Grow?
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20 Sep 11, Joan Roberts (Australia - temperate climate)
Where can I buy runner beans to eat?
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19 Jun 11, ARTHUR (Australia - temperate climate)
Maddy 11th May.You can extend the support Maddy.Remember you have to pick them.Atrhur (the mad gardner).
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23 May 11, Naomi (Australia - tropical climate)
is anyone able to help I have been stalks with no flowers? they are dwarf broad beans.
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05 May 11, Maddy (Australia - temperate climate)
My climbing beans have reached the end of their trellis and I can't make it taller. Will that affect their growth?
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13 Apr 11, Diana-Adelaide (Australia - temperate climate)
I grow the purple King and snake bean here in Adelaide. They do much better in partial shade during summer.
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19 Feb 11, (Australia - temperate climate)
My beans are about 45 cm and getting bigger the plant is apprrox 7 ft high
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Showing 151 - 160 of 183 comments
See comments for all plants

To make a U cover (better description is an n shape) for climbing beans would be quite a job and probably expensive if you don't have the materials around the yard now. We had climbing bean at the Men's Shed over 8' tall. Beans don't need bees. For dwarf beans you could go to Bunnings and buy a roll of wire netting (dog mesh or similar) - I think they do 5 M rolls. 1200mm or 1500 mm high would be better. Make a shape like a small n - 1200 mm 400 up each side and 400 across the top. With the 1500 mm 500 up each side and 500 across the top. Cover with 50 or 70% shade cloth - ($5/mtr Bunnings). Shade cloth is 1800mm wide - so put that over the top and lay some wood posts or what ever along the cloth on the ground - also put a piece of tin or wood on the end to stop them going in that way. My plants are growing pretty good - will be interesting to see if they flower soon. My tunnel is a little small.

- Mike

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