Runner bean: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
How do you sow runner beans outdoors?
Sow runner beans outdoors after the last frosts, in soil that has warmed sufficiently. Seeds germinate poorly in cold, waterlogged ground. A soil temperature around 12 °C is a useful guide, adjusted to local conditions and the instructions on your packet.
Choose a sunny, sheltered position with freely draining soil. Remove weeds and prepare an even surface. If the ground lacks organic matter, well-rotted compost can improve its structure; a routinely heavy addition is not needed everywhere.
Put sturdy supports in place before sowing climbing forms. Dwarf varieties require a different layout. Sow at the recommended depth, generally a few centimetres, close to the supports for climbing beans. Adapt distances to the variety and its mature habit rather than applying one spacing to every plant.
Cover the seeds, firm gently and water if the soil is dry. Keep moisture reasonably even during emergence without waterlogging. Mark the young plants and watch for slugs. After emergence, thin if necessary and guide the first stems towards their support without tying them tightly. Avoid disturbing roots when checking that the support is secure.
When do runner beans flower?
How do you harvest runner beans?
