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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15 Jan 20, Anon (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Go to the top of the page and look in the calendar months for the Green cells with a white P.
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24 Nov 19, Felix Hodgson (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
I have blue Peter bean seeds. Free. Postage at your cost.
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02 May 21, Sue Hedden (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
Hi Felix, where about are you? We are also in sub-tropical climate, south coast of KZN, but often come to Durban We would LOVE some seeds! Hope we are not too late! Sue, 0721933945
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07 Sep 19, Sailesh Gajurel (New Zealand - temperate climate)
As well as i am planning to grow snake beans on my garden this year sowing seeds on what interval shall i do seedling for continuous supply of beans throught the season
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09 Sep 19, Anon (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Water the garden the day before you are going to plant the seeds. Put the seeds in a glass of water the night before you are going to plant them. Plant the seeds the next day and give a light watering. DO NOT water again for 4 days. Then give a light watering each second day - depending on your soil type.
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09 Sep 19, Anon (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
About each 4-5 weeks.
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18 Jan 19, Alison (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
I have grown mangere pole beans regularly for the past few years but this year's don't taste nice at all - a very strong soapy flavour. I haven't tried cooking any yet - we've just tried them raw. Has anyone had a similar experience? Thank you.
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07 Jan 19, John McKenzie (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
I grew scarlet runners this year they grew great but sadly no flowers.Any suggestions
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08 Jan 19, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Did you plant them Oct to Nov? Did you use a lot of fertiliser?
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04 Dec 18, Dale (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hello Mike Just wanting to know the names of a couple of local (QLD / sub tropical) organic seed companies to buy from. I bought one lot of seeds from Green Harvest, but some are not producing .( it happens hey) I must say it has been such a dry and extremely hot spring and these 35 plus days are a real struggle for all the veggies. I even bought a couple of cheap tarps to give some plants a little shade.... I remember in past posts you mentioned a couple of companies. Also I would like to grow organicncorn,but I didn't see it on the A to Z growing list..are they all GMO now? Your help would be much appreciated. Regards Dale
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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

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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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