Runner beans are one of the easiest crops to grow and produce a lot of long green pods from mid-summer to early fall. They are a must-have for any vegetable garden. Most are climbers, producing large harvests in a small area, with a few dwarf varieties, ideal for containers.
Runner beans are a gardener’s delight – producing beautiful flowers and bountiful beans on vining plants. While traditionally grown in vegetable gardens, runner beans can also thrive when grown in pots. With the right techniques, container-grown runner beans will reward you with a prolific harvest This guide covers everything you need to know to successfully grow runner beans in pots
Selecting a Pot
The most important consideration is choosing a pot that provides enough room for growth. As a vigorous vegetable, runner beans need a large container, preferably at least 12 inches wide and deep. This gives their long roots space to spread out.
Terracotta, plastic, wood, and metal planters all work well. Just be sure the container has several drainage holes in the bottom to prevent waterlogging.
For best results, use the largest pot you can accommodate. Runner beans grown in cramped quarters will have stunted growth and reduced yields.
Preparing the Soil Mix
Runner beans thrive in loose, fertile, well-draining soil. A quality potting mix amended with compost provides ideal growing conditions. Or create your own mix using compost, coco coir or peat moss, perlite or vermiculite, and a granular organic fertilizer.
Fill containers nearly to the top – don’t skimp on soil depth. Runner beans produce long taproots, so adequate depth is essential.
Direct Sowing vs. Transplanting
You can either direct sow beans into their final pot or start seeds indoors and transplant seedlings.
Direct sowing is simpler – just plant two seeds in each pot 1-2 inches deep in late spring once outdoor temperatures are reliably warm. Thin to one plant per pot once seedlings emerge.
For a head start, sow indoors 4-6 weeks before your last expected frost date. Harden off plants for 7-10 days before transplanting into pots outdoors.
Supporting Vining Growth
Place a trellis, teepee, or other vertical support in the pot when planting. Runner beans readily cling to structures with their twisting tendrils as they grow 8 feet tall or more.
A bean tower made from 5-6 bamboo poles works great. Position support to one side of the pot to allow access for picking beans.
Sun Requirements
situate pots in a spot receiving at least 6-8 hours of direct sun daily. Morning sun is ideal. With insufficient light, plants will be spindly and low-yielding.
Shelter plants from harsh winds, which can damage tender growth. But avoid completely enclosed areas with no air circulation.
Watering Needs
Runner beans are water hogs! Check soil moisture daily, watering when the top inch becomes dry. Apply water right at soil level rather than overhead.
Add mulch around plants to retain moisture. Terracotta and wood planters dry out more rapidly than plastic or glazed ceramic and require more frequent watering.
Fertilizing for Healthy Growth
Incorporate a slow-release organic fertilizer into the soil mix at planting time. About 1 cup per large pot provides nutrients for 6-8 weeks.
Supplement with a liquid fertilizer like fish emulsion or compost tea every 2-3 weeks once plants start flowering and setting beans.
Pollination for Fruit Set
Like most vegetables, runner beans produce more abundantly with adequate pollination. If plants lack flowers or flowers drop off instead of forming beans, lack of pollination may be the culprit.
Bees are the prime pollinators of bean blossoms. Place pots near flowering plants like herbs and ornamentals to attract pollinators. Or pollinate by hand using a small brush.
Harvesting Runner Beans
Begin checking for ready-to-pick beans about 8 weeks after sowing seeds. The fruits should be slender and crisp, no more than 1⁄4 inch in diameter, and 4-6 inches long.
Pick beans frequently to keep plants continually producing. Use pruners for higher pods. Beans removed daily stay tender; those left to oversize get fibrous.
Tips for an Abundant Harvest
- Pinc
Sowing outdoors – in the ground
To grow, seeds need warm conditions. So, don’t plant until there is no longer any chance of frost and the soil has reached 12°C (54°F). This is usually around mid-May in the south of the UK and two weeks later in the north. Before sowing, prepare your site well and put supports in place – see details above. Cover the ground with clear plastic or cloches for about four weeks before planting if your soil is heavy and wet in early spring. This will help warm it up. Then sow the large seeds individually 5cm (2in) deep – two at the base of each bamboo cane. Once they germinate, thin to one seedling per cane, and protect from slugs and snails. When sowing dwarf runner beans, allow 30cm (1ft) between plants and 50cm (20in) between rows.
What & where to buy
You can buy a wide choice of runner bean seeds in garden centres and from online retailers. Lots of them also sell young plants in the spring and early summer. This is great if you only want to grow a few or don’t have room to grow them from seeds inside.
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Runner beans like a sunny, sheltered position. After pulling all the weeds from the ground, add a lot of well-rotted manure or garden compost—at least two bucketfuls per square meter or yard. Do this a few weeks before you plant or sow to give the soil time to settle, or even better, do it in the fall before if you planned your growing area early enough. A pH of 6. 5 (slightly acid) is preferable for a good crop, so.
Frost will kill runner bean plants, so plant seeds indoors in late spring for an early harvest. Indoor sowing is also best in colder locations. You can plant seeds outside in the spring or summer, or you can buy young plants that are ready to go outside after the last frost. Choose a sunny, sheltered location for your beans, and prepare the ground by adding.
Climbing beans need tall supports to twine up, which are best put in place before sowing or planting. The traditional method is to grow them along a double row of bamboo canes, 2. 5m (8ft) tall, with 45–60cm (18in–2ft) between the two rows. In each row, space the canes 15–30 cm (6–12 in) apart and slope them inwards. Then, tie each pair near the top to a horizontal cane to make a strong A-frame. If growing more than one double row, allow at least 1. 5m (5ft) between them.
Alternatively, create an X-frame by sloping the canes at a sharper angle so they cross in the middle. Tie them at the centre, and add a horizontal cane to link them all together and increase stability. An X-frame takes up more room, but the beans are easier to pick because they are close by, and cropping is usually better. If you don’t have room for a double row of canes, you can make a wigwam. Again, use 2. 5m (8ft) canes, four or five per wigwam, spacing them 15–30cm (6–12in) apart at the base. Tie the tops of the canes together. Wigwams make an attractive feature in a border or patio container, as well as on the veg plot. You can keep dwarf beans standing straight by putting short, twiggy sticks between the plants. This will also help you lift the pods off the ground.
Runner beans can be started indoors on a sunny windowsill, in a propagator, or in a greenhouse from the middle of April to the beginning of May. This will give you an earlier crop than sowing outdoors. Use small pots or trays of deep modules and fill with moist multi-purpose compost. Sow one bean into the centre, 5cm (2in) deep, and water well. Keep in a warm, bright place, at over 12°C (54°F). Seedlings will grow rapidly and need watering regularly. Once there is no longer any chance of frost, usually in late May or early June (see Planting out below), the young plants can be moved outside.
Growing Runner Beans in Pots III: Building a support framework for your beans in pots
FAQ
Do runner beans do well in pots?
Do runner beans like sun or shade?
What is the best month to plant runner beans?
Do runner beans need deep soil?
Can you grow runner beans from seed?
The best way to grow runner beans is from seed, and then to add supports for the plants as they grow. ‘They are so easy to grow from seed that there is little point buying in plants unless you missed the sowing window,’ says Alex Mitchell in her book Crops in Tight Spots. To grow runner beans from seed, you will need good, moisture-retentive soil.
How do you grow runner beans in pots?
To grow runner beans in potsGrow Runner Beans in Pots, you will need a large enough container with good drainage, potting soil, and a trellis or support system for the beans to climb on. Sow the beans about 2 inches deep and keep the soil evenly moist. Place the pot in a sunny spot and water regularly.
Can you grow runner beans in containers?
You can grow your beans in pots instead. Growing them in containers can be both a space-saving technique and a delightful aesthetic addition to your patio or balcony. But there are things to bear in mind if you want to grow runner beans in containers successfully. Let’s dive straight in!
When should runner beans be planted?
For those with milder springs, direct sowing into the containers from late May to early June is ideal. Always remember to water well after sowing. Runner beans, true to their name, are enthusiastic climbers. Introducing a robust support system early on will help guide their growth.