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 P P          

(Best months for growing Beans - climbing in USA - Zone 4a 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

02 Dec 18, wayne gardiner (Australia - temperate climate)
edges of bean leaves drying out
02 Dec 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Sounds like lack of water or hot sun. Temp here today 35-36 - within 2 degrees of record since 1948 for Dec. Not really a good time to be trying to grow things in SE Qld.
04 Dec 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hot dry winds can do this also - especially a NW wind - current heat wave conditions north of Gladstone.
27 Nov 18, G'Day Farm (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have started to get the same problem with our blue lake beans, beautiful and now not so much. My general feeling is not enough even watering. I use tech line and we've had very little rain. When we had the rain they were perfect.
29 Nov 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
The techline watering might not give a good enough watering - 3L/h/dripper spaced 300mm. When plants are near/full grown I probably give my plants (about 10 plants) 1 1/2 to 2 minutes at 20 L/ min.
29 Nov 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have had 2 great crops (dwarf) this spring. My third planting is struggling with flowering (they are shaded by tall sweet corn in the afternoon) and my 4th crop is flowering now also. All crops were planted after having grown other crops in the autumn and winter. I gave all crops a good hit up with fertiliser and the plants have grown big and strong. I have mulched around the plants and watered M W F. It is quite hot now (within 1-3 degree of record highs) so they need water. I will rest my ground after these have finished producing. We have had a very dry last 6 weeks.
22 Oct 18, James (Australia - tropical climate)
My beans (climbers and dwarf, both), don't seem to grow nice and straight and tend to curl. They still cook up well and taste fine. Thoughts please?
23 Oct 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have had this problem in the past. I'm growing mine in the spring now - bean fly gets them in the autumn. I am giving my plants a good fertilizing and producing big healthy tall plants and I have straight beans. Do they touch the ground and curl.
24 Oct 18, James (Australia - tropical climate)
Hi Mike... No, they just seem to curl anywhere.
22 Oct 18, Robyn Williams (Australia - temperate climate)
Hello. I'm wondering if climbing beans will grow on a south facing fence in Melbourne?
Showing 51 - 60 of 183 comments

There are two main things to think about when practicing crop rotation. The first; what condition (nutrition, minerals, tilth) will this crop leave the soil in. In this case your current crop is beans -- they fix their own nitrogen, so their roots will be full of nitrogen nodules (little white bubbles) and provided you just turn the roots into the ground -- the nitrogen will be available for the next crop. So your next crop CAN BE a heavy nitrogen feeder -- there should be lots of nitrogen there. Also beans do a surprisingly good job at breaking up the soil...maybe breaking up is too strong a word -- beans leave the soil very light and well blended with good aeration. Beans are not heavy feeders and therefore you don't need to worry about them depleting the soil of anything in particular, a basic application of manure should restore things. -- The Second concern of crop rotation is ; pests -- what pests did the beans attract ? Generally beans attract slugs and the sort of insects that feed on tender leaves (as young beans have very nice tender leaves) -- so ideally you want to plant something that these insects/slugs don't feed on -- something like tomatoes (their leaves are not suitable -- or tend not to be suitable for slugs). Then review what you would like to plant -- and determine the plant that best suits the conditions. Nightshades tend to be the most typical choice to follow beans -- Nightshade is a family of plants that includes tomatoes, eggplant, potatoes, and peppers. Since you are probably already set up with poles - I might go for indeterminate tomatoes (which are really vines and require support).

- Celeste Archer

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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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