With runner beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), large yields can be achieved in a small area. The beans are also suitable as privacy and wind protection. We have put together the most important information about growing runner beans for you.

In a nutshell

  • Runner beans are a bit more demanding than bush beans
  • climbing aids required
  • low space requirement advantageous
  • pay attention to shadows in mixed cultures
  • Regular harvesting stimulates fruiting

growing pole beans

Beans are annual, fast-growing plants. Her homeland is South America. Today, kidney beans are grown in all countries. After soybeans, they are considered the largest crop in the world.

Various varieties, from the small dwarf bean to the tall runner bean, are available on the market.

location

If you want to grow pole or climbing beans, you need a location that is as warm and sunny as possible. Be aware that mature runner bean plants cast shadows on neighboring plants.

floor

All types of beans require well-drained, fresh, loose soil. The legumes do not tolerate too much moisture or even waterlogging. Optimize the garden soil by adding compost. You will be rewarded with a higher yield.

sowing

Runner beans are sown outdoors after May 15th. Vegetables are extremely sensitive to cold. You can grow the beans indoors in pots. This will give you several weeks of time. However, we recommend direct sowing, because early bean plants are more often attacked by lice.

Alternatively, you can grow runner beans in a greenhouse.

Notice: Do not plant the runner bean bed in an area where beans or peas were grown the previous year.

manual

Timing: Choose a warmer day in mid-May for growing pole beans. The floor temperature must be at least 10 degrees Celsius. If there is a threat of night frost, the beds must then be protected with fleece or jute coverings.

  1. Dig 1 inch deep holes in the well-prepared, finely crumbly soil. The row spacing must be 70 centimeters, the distance between the holes 40 centimeters.
  2. After that, place six to eight seeds in each hole.
  3. Cover the seed with soil and press down the soil. Beans are dark germinators. However, they should not be placed deeper than three centimeters in the ground.

climbing aids

When the bean plants have reached a height of ten centimetres, they must be carefully wound around trellises. These are available in various designs in gardening shops. You can also build them yourself.

Typical climbing aids for beans are:

  1. Crossed Wands
    One stick is stuck into the ground for each plant. The opposite sticks in the rows are then crossed at the top. A horizontal bar is then placed over the crossing points and connected with a sturdy cord.
  2. trellis
    Poles are placed one to two meters apart. Plastic nets or ropes are then attached between these, which the bean plants can climb up.
  3. T-shaped climbing aids
    Attach a crossbar to the top of a pole. From the crossbar, ropes are led down to the ground and fastened. This allows the plants to twine upwards.
  4. Tent-shaped climbing aids
    Four poles are positioned on two opposing pairs of plants. The tops of the sticks are tied together to form a tent shape. The beans can grow upwards on the four poles.

Notice: Pole beans reach a height of about three meters. The first pods form in plants that are three to four weeks old.

care instructions

pour

All beans require a lot of water. Water generously, especially after flowering and each time you've harvested beans. The soil should be moist. Under no circumstances should waterlogging occur.

weed weed

Runner beans require a lot of nutrients. Weed the bed regularly.

Fertilize

Beans are among the weak consumers. They are able to fix nitrogen from the air. Fertilization is not necessary. The soil improvement with compost, on the other hand, is often used.

pile up

Young bean plants develop better if they are slightly earthed up. Slightly press up the soil around the seedling. The mounding stabilizes the young plants of large climbing beans as well as those of small bush beans.

To harvest

Harvest runner beans at least once a week. Varieties with thin, long pods should be harvested every three to four days. If they hang longer, threads can form.

Notice: Experienced gardeners know that you harvest the most beans when you pick a lot. New pods form quickly. Young beans are particularly tender.

pests

Climbing beans often fall prey to slugs. Protect especially young plants from the pests. Aphids and the red spider pose a threat to runner beans. Protect the popular vegetable with a suitable mixed culture.

Diseases

The so-called focal spot disease, can mean the loss of the entire bean crop. A suitable means of treatment is not available. Then remove infested leaves as soon as possible in the household waste. Prevent the dreaded disease by large distances between the plants.

Another danger lurks in bean rust, a disease that primarily affects runner beans and cannot be cured. Characteristics of this are white spots on the undersides of the leaves, which later also appear on the fruits. Then immediately remove infested parts of the plant with the household waste. Choose a different area to grow beans the following year. The bean mosaic virus becomes noticeable through mosaic-like drawings on the leaves. Destroy infested specimens. When choosing seeds, look for resistant varieties.

bean rust

mixed culture

Beans thrive in mixed crops. Suitable plant partners are:

  • aubergine
  • savory
  • cucumber
  • salad
  • celery
  • rosemary

Notice: Rosemary on the bean bed repels aphids.

Climbing beans do not get along in a bed with plant partners, such as

  • peas
  • garlic

sorts

Suitable for growing in the garden:

  • foil, a Spanish variety with a white base color, brown speckles and a buttery flavor.
  • Cresijevec, a Slovenian variety with gorgeous purple flowers, green pods and purple grains with white speckles.
  • Coco, a tasty runner bean with green-red speckled pods and light brown kernels with dark brown markings.
  • blue hilde, one of the most beautiful varieties with purple flowers and purple pods that develop a beautiful emerald green when cooked.

frequently asked Questions

How can you tell when the beans are ripe?

You can harvest the first beans about two to three months after sowing. Then do the ripeness test according to our instructions: Break a bean in half. Does the bean break through smoothly? Does the fracture surface look green and juicy? Are the seeds about an inch long? Then it is ready for harvest.

How are beans harvested?

Pinch the pods off the plant with your fingers. A knife is not required. The more often you harvest, the more young beans will grow back.

How to get bean seeds

You can easily win your own bean seeds according to our instructions. To do this, leave a few pods on the plant until they are dry. Then you can shake the bean seeds out of the pods and grow plants from self-gathered seeds next year.

Category:

Vegetable garden