Vegetable

Growing runner beans

Phaseolus coccineus · Fabaceae
By Hannah Price · Updated 12 November 2026

Runner beans calendar

Runner beans sowing, planting and harvest calendar (UK)
	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Sow indoors				Sow indoors in April	Sow indoors in May
Sow outside					Sow outside in May	Sow outside in June
Plant					Plant in May	Plant in June
Harvest							Harvest in July	Harvest in August	Harvest in September	Harvest in October

Timings suit lowland southern and central Britain and most of Ireland. In northern England and Scotland, or in a cold spot, start two to three weeks later in spring and finish earlier in autumn.

Overview

Runner beans are vigorous climbers that can reach the top of a 2.4 m cane by midsummer, producing scarlet, white or bicoloured flowers followed by long, flat pods. They were first grown in Britain as ornamental plants, and they still look good on a wigwam in a border. A single double row produces plenty for a family, with spares for the freezer.

Varieties to try

'Scarlet Emperor' is an old favourite with heavy crops and red flowers. 'Enorma' gives very long, straight pods for showing or eating. 'White Lady' has white flowers that birds tend to leave alone and sets pods well in hot weather. Self-pollinating varieties such as 'Firestorm' set better when bees are scarce. 'Hestia' is a dwarf bush type for containers.

Soil and site

Best soil: Deep, moisture-retentive soil improved with plenty of organic matter.

Runners are deep rooted and thirsty, so many growers dig a trench in autumn or winter and line it with kitchen waste and compost to hold moisture. Pick a sunny site sheltered from strong winds, which can topple heavy rows and deter pollinating insects.

Sowing and planting

Sow single seeds 5 cm deep in deep pots or root trainers indoors in late April or May. Harden off and plant out in late May or early June, one plant at the base of each cane. Alternatively, sow two seeds directly at each cane from late May into June and remove the weaker one. Secure the canes firmly at the top before planting.

Spacing: One plant per cane, canes 15–20 cm apart, in a double row 60 cm apart or a wigwam.

Care

Guide young shoots around the canes, as they sometimes need a nudge to start climbing. Water heavily during dry spells, especially once the flowers appear, because dry roots cause flowers to drop without setting. Mulch the row in early summer. Pinch out the growing tips when plants reach the top of their supports to encourage side shoots lower down.

Harvesting and storing

Start picking when pods are about 15–20 cm long and still smooth, before the beans inside start to bulge. Pick every two or three days, since leaving pods to mature tells the plant to stop flowering. Slice and blanch surplus beans for freezing. At the end of the season you can leave a few pods to dry for next year's seed.

Common problems

Slugs often graze seedlings, so raise plants in pots and plant out sturdy specimens. Blackfly gather on tips in early summer; squash or hose them off. Flowers dropping without pods usually points to drought or very hot nights, so water at the roots in the evening and keep the soil mulched.

Read more on the problems that most often hit runner beans:

Not sure what you're looking at? Try diagnosing it by symptom.

Month-by-month reminders

Jobs for runner beans come round in April, May, June, July, August, September and October. Each month page lists the rest of the garden's jobs for the same weeks.

Grow alongside

Sources

Names follow Kew's Plants of the World Online; timings and spacings reflect UK growing practice and were checked against the references below. Text is our own. See our editorial policy.