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
S S           S S S S S
T T T           T T T T
P P P         P P P P P

(Best months for growing Beans - climbing in Australia - sub-tropical regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • 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

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for Australia | for all countries
23 Oct 18, Mike (Australia - temperate climate)
They should grow as long as they receive plenty of sun.
Reply or Post a new comment
12 Jul 18, Jane (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Mike, when I transplanted some climbing beans and peas along a fenceline, I forgot to take the tray of seedlings (with mostly different types of climbing tomatoes in) back to the bush/greenhouse. Next day I went to town and didn't water so didn't see the tray still sitting on the ground in a vege garden. Next day I saw it! Could have cried! It was if someone had snipped the tops (little leaves) of my tomato seedlings off (climbing Italian flat tomato/druzba/blue ridge and I forget what else). I don't know what :( .I returned the tray to the greenhouse and it looks like they may grow back? Tonight I found a possum in the garden but believe possums don't eat green (or pumpkin)? Could it have been grasshoppers? I was told I have planted tomatoes out of season (I am also trying to see what grows here and what is not so successful).. (started thinning out seedlings today. I put too many seeds in together., transplanting each one into separate pots:buttercrunch lettuce, rhubarb-don't kniw if will grow here- Egyptian spinach etc etc etc). Looks like the Marrow (Melbourne cream) seedlings are settling in after being transplanted in the garden). What do I feed tomato plants, please? I bought some Epsom salts but don't kniw what to do with it. Thankyou again. Jane
Reply or Post a new comment
09 Oct 18, Dale (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Jane, I had a problem with seedlings getting eaten. It was annoying me ,as I didn't know what was doing it. Then I decided to put a trap in among the seedlings and found that a family of bush rats were feasting on all my baby seedlings. As it has been so dry , all the wild life are coming out from the bush. Hope you had some luck.
Reply or Post a new comment
16 Jul 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I grow veges from March into winter and from Aug into summer near Bundaberg. Beans grow best here in spring - bean fly get mine in Autumn.
Reply or Post a new comment
05 Sep 18, Jane (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Mike - I was just rereading your post and it really is a great rule of thumb that I am going garden by.Appreciated.
Reply or Post a new comment
16 Jul 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Web page - queensland gardening.com - go to calendar and it gives a guide to planting each month. If they eat the tops of the tomatoes then you will probably only have side shoots grow. I'm going to plant tomato seeds early August and plant out early Sept. I have some tomatoes growing now - doing fairly well. Put a couple of teaspoons of Epsom salts in 9 L of water and sprinkle on the soil where the tomatoes go in. I use commercial fertiliser from Produce Suppliers (where farmers buy their fertiliser). 25Kg bag for $25-35. Use most on the lawn. About 10-14N,4-6P and 10-15K. I use about 2-3 teaspoons in 9 L of water when the plants are well established. I plant seeds into small plastic trays (get your meat etc in from supermarkets) then when seedlings germinate I plant out into 6-8 cell trays. When they start growing I place them where they receive about 3 hrs sunlight a day.
Reply or Post a new comment
05 Sep 18, Jane (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Mike - have you planted out your tomatoes? Once established, do you use 2-3 tspns to 9L water per plant when watering/daily? Re: fertiliser, do you use that regularly around tomatoes/other plants and/or plant feed and/or soil conditioner or just fertiliser? Everyone should take up gardening.
Reply or Post a new comment
17 Jun 18, Jane (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi. I have just read that beans are not happy around chives but have a couple of climbing beans (and climbing peas)near chives. Should I leave them or dig up and transplant the chives ir beans or neither? Thanx.
Reply or Post a new comment
18 Jun 18, Mike L (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
If the plants are well grown leave them. If they are seedling stage transplant one or the other. Or let them go and see what happens.
Reply or Post a new comment
08 Jul 18, Jane (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Mike, just to say thank you. Appreciated. So far so good. They are (to my untrained eye) looking OK. I have sown several others along a fence in another garden area but am not sure how they'll go. This site is brilliant. Jane
Reply or Post a new comment
Showing 61 - 70 of 183 comments
See comments for all plants

Ask a question or post a comment or advice about Beans - climbing

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put Gardenate in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us | Privacy Policy

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.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.