pea and bean family

Runner beans

Phaseolus coccineus · Easy

A tall, productive summer bean that makes excellent use of vertical space.

Sow

Sow under cover in April–May or direct outside in May–June.

Plant out after frost beneath sturdy supports.

July to October with frequent picking.

Practical growing notes

Heavy yields from a narrow footprint and flowers attractive to pollinators.

Water consistently at flowering and never allow pods to become old and stringy.

Keep the bed moving

A quick cool-season leaf crop for spring and autumn, with repeat pickings from small sowings.

A succession-friendly salad crop, especially useful as loose-leaf or cut-and-come-again types.

A compact peppery leaf crop that can be harvested repeatedly and grows well in containers.

A low-maintenance overwintering crop planted as named, disease-free cloves.