Runner beans growing on rustic frame
Angela Slater
14 May 2015
Daughter of a farmer and market gardener so have always had a connection with the outdoors, whether it was keeping animals or producing fruit, vegetables and cut flowers. Along with my work at Hayes Garden World I also have a smallholding, mainly breeding rare breed pigs. I gained an HND and BSc in Conservation and Environmental Land Management, as a result I am an ardent environmentalist and have a keen interest in environmentally friendly gardening. In my time at Hayes I worked for several years in the Outdoor Plant and Houseplant areas

How To Plant Runner Beans In The Garden

Runner beans at Sizergh Castle kitchen garden

Runner beans are easy to grow, don't need much space and give a good crop

Before planting Runner Beans in the ground wait until the soil has warmed; start them off in a greenhouse then plant them outside if you want to have an earlier crop. We have chosen 'St George' which is a heavy cropper and has been given the Award of Garden Merit. You will get a really good crop out of a small space, 60 x 60cm (2' x 2'), so they are well worth growing as they tend to be quite expensive in the supermarket. Pick them when they are quite young as they soon go tough and stringy; when they get like that even my goats won't eat them! Continuous picking will encourage them to produce more beans.

You will need:

  • 7’ canes
  • garden twine    
  • scissors
  • beans

Push the canes into the ground to form a framework about 45cm (18”) across. If you do not have a great deal of space arrange the canes in a circle about 60cm (24”) in diameter and tie the tops of them together to form a wigwam.

Runner beans growing up canes

Incorporate some Growmore into the soil, or dig a trench and put well-rotted manure in the bottom. Beans are greedy feeders and need a lot of water so grow them in a good humus rich, moisture retentive soil.

Push 2 beans into the soil at the base of each cane, about 5cm (2”) deep.

Water after planting and keep watering throughout summer otherwise the  beans will be tough.

Label.

For more information on growing vegetables just click the link to read the blog: 'When should I plant my potatoes', 'How to grow asparagus' and 'How to utilise a glut of tomatoes'.