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

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for USA | for all countries
04 Jan 16, kiconco prima (Australia - temperate climate)
how many weeks do climbing beans take to flower
Reply or Post a new comment
03 Jan 16, andrew sgears (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have an abundence of flowers but have only had 2 beans so far.Have tried most things.I am at a loss
Reply or Post a new comment
27 Aug 15, Tony (Australia - temperate climate)
If you r having problems with your scarlet runners flowering but not producing beans ,in late afternoons when the sun has gone ,give your vines a light misting with the hose ,making particular attention to fine spray all the flowers ,you will find this will work even after one or two applications ,avoid spraying if it's too hot ,and never in the heat of the day ,give it a go .Tony
Reply or Post a new comment
04 Aug 15, Chris (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Might be curl grubs in the soil, dig deep down and see. There is a spray to get rid of them.
Reply or Post a new comment
01 Aug 15, mary farmer (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
why do my scarlet runners that have grown very well in the green house, not borne any flowers, they got to a height of 5/6 feet and looked very healthy.?
Reply or Post a new comment
23 Jul 15, Jean (Australia - tropical climate)
We can grow most vegetables successfully but never have any luck with beans. I have planted some and they are looking pale and not growing. The soil has lots of old horse manure and I fertilise my veggies fortnightly with seasol . Last week was cold for our area and we had frost. The plants are watered regularly. I would appreciate your advice on what we are doing wrong. Thank you
Reply or Post a new comment
23 Jul 15, Prometheus (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
It depends how cold your winters are; if you've had frost and temps are dropping below 15 degrees at night, it's currently too cold to be growing green beans with great success. I've only grown broad beans in the past and they were quite tolerant of temps into the low 30s, so provided your Spring doesn't heat up too quickly you're probably best waiting until late August or even September. Again, really depends on the nightly lows. Also beware that Seasol is merely a tonic, not a fertiliser (it doesn't have the nutrients in appreciable quantities to make a difference). The same company makes a comprehensive liquid fertiliser called 'Powerfeed' which, combined with Seasol, has worked wonders for my container chillies in the past (the standard version isn't certified organic but there is a certified organic version available now, albeit much diluted compared to the standard version). Depending on how many nutrients are left over from the manure, the lack of regular fertiliser may also be the problem - so I'd try something like Powerfeed or Searles 5-in-1 liquid fertiliser in addition to the Seasol (every week or two). Best of luck
Reply or Post a new comment
04 Feb 15, Shamim (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Green locust is eating away pomegranate leaves. How do I get rid of them?
Reply or Post a new comment
31 Jan 15, Peter O'Mant (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
Please can you tell me where I can buy scarlet runner bean seed for my small vegetable garden
Reply or Post a new comment
16 Oct 14, Kevin Wilson (Australia - temperate climate)
when do I start fertilising scarlet runners
Reply or Post a new comment
Showing 171 - 180 of 268 comments
See comments for all plants

Since I'm from North America, my answer is a "canned/typical" answer. MANY people use the 3 sisters planting here -- -- The "Three Sisters" planting method is a traditional Indigenous companion planting technique using corn, beans, and squash together in clusters. Today’s gardeners will want to keep in mind that Indigenous cultivators who originated Three Sisters farming would have been growing dent, flint, or flour corn rather than sweet corn. The corn stalks serve as a living trellis for their sister beans. Although you can grow sweet corn as a substitute for the flint type, avoid popcorn. The stalks of these plants are short enough that they might be overwhelmed by the other plants. Don’t attempt to substitute bush beans for the pole type, as the former won’t climb. You can choose whichever type of squash or pumpkin suits your fancy for this sister planting. Keep in mind that summer squashes tend to grow more bushy than vine-like, so they don’t make the best groundcover. In addition to the Three Sisters, you may also want to sow other tall plants, like sunflower, Jerusalem artichoke, or amaranth, in the spaces between the hills. There, squash vines will provide groundcover for them. In addition to attracting pollinators, these extra plants can produce a crop, too. Sow them at the same time you sow the corn to give them a head start on the squash vines. This planting creates a symbiotic system where corn provides a stalk for beans to climb, beans add nitrogen to the soil, and squash covers the ground to retain moisture and suppress weeds, offering a balanced, sustainable food source. The sequence involves planting corn first, then beans a few weeks later, and squash after the beans have started to grow, ensuring each plant supports the others as they mature. Plant the corn and beans on a mound -- and the squash around the mound -- plant the additional plants (if desired) between the mounds (sunflower, Jerusalem artichoke, or amaranth, or other tall plant). So in your case : 1. build your mounds & plant your SWEET corn in the middle of the mound (also plant the additional plants between the mound if desired - don't forget the boron for the corn), give it a couple of weeks, then 2. plant your POLE beans (or Green bean, string bean, snap bean), once the beans are going, 3. plant your WINTER squash around the mound. IF YOU ARE IN A VERY ARID AREA -- mounds dry out quickly, so you'll need to water MORE OR skip mounding and plant this formation flat.

- Celeste Archer

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.