Runner beans Growing Guide
Runner beans are an easy-to-grow, highly productive crop that yields abundant long green pods from mid-summer to early autumn. Climbing varieties offer vertical interest with red, pink, white, or bi-coloured flowers, suitable for veg plots, large containers, or borders. Dwarf varieties are compact and ideal for smaller spaces and containers. They require sun, rich soil, and plenty of water, thriving particularly well in cool, wet summers. Regular harvesting of young, tender pods encourages continuous production.
This guidance applies to the crop in general. Individual varieties and local conditions can differ.
Planting information
For an early crop or in colder locations, sow seeds indoors from mid-April to May. Use small pots or deep modules filled with moist peat-free multi-purpose compost. Sow one bean per pot, 5cm deep, and water well. Keep in a warm, bright place above 12°C. Young plants can be moved outdoors once all risk of frost has passed (late May/early June). For outdoor sowing, wait until all risk of frost has passed and the soil reaches 12°C (mid-May in south UK, early June in north). Sow seeds in the ground or containers. In the ground, sow individually 5cm deep, placing two at the base of each bamboo cane, then thin to one seedling per cane. For dwarf varieties, sow 5cm deep, allowing 30cm between plants and 50cm between rows. For climbing varieties in large containers (75cm wide, 45cm deep), sow seeds 5cm deep and 15cm apart, using a wigwam support. Plant out runner beans grown indoors or bought as young plants from late May or early June, after hardening them off and ensuring no risk of frost. Prepare the soil by weeding and incorporating garden compost or well-rotted manure, and set up supports beforehand. Plant one runner bean at the base of each bamboo cane and water well, loosely tying stems to the canes to initiate climbing. For dwarf runner beans, space plants 30cm apart. Consider planting dwarf beans through a plastic-free weed-suppressing membrane to reduce weeding and protect pods. Protect all newly planted beans from slugs and snails. For container planting, use peat-free multi-purpose or loam-based compost. Containers should be at least 75cm wide and 45cm deep for climbing varieties, and 30-45cm wide for dwarf beans.
Harvesting information
For fresh green pods, runner beans usually begin cropping in mid-summer and can continue for eight weeks or more. Pick young, tender, stringless pods regularly, ideally every two to three days. Pods should snap easily and contain small, pale beans; around 20-25cm is a general guide, so follow the variety instructions. Regular picking keeps a fresh-pod crop producing. For varieties grown deliberately for dried beans, such as Czar, leave pods on the selected plants to mature instead of picking them young, and follow the separate mature dry-bean guidance. Cook beans before eating; do not eat raw pods or beans. Once the chosen harvest is finished, cut plants at the base and compost the tops, leaving the roots in the soil.
Storage information
Keep freshly picked green pods in a bag in the fridge and use promptly while crisp. Cook beans before eating. Beans deliberately left to ripen for drying are a different harvest: follow the mature dry-bean guidance rather than treating green pods as dried beans.