Bean, Scarlet Runner (2024)

The Scarlet Runner Bean is a vigorous and easy to grow crop that is as ornamental as it is useful. It's the most commonly grown green bean in Britain, where it is much more popular than the snap beans. You can grow these beans as dry beans, or snap beans.

• PH (min/max): 6.0 - 7.5
• PH Ideal (min/max): 6.5 - 7.0

The Scarlet Runner Bean prefers a light, well-drained [loam], with lots of [organic matter]. It doesn't need a lot of nitrogen, but it should have good quantities of potassium, phosphorus and other nutrients.

Water

Like most beans they need constant moisture for best growth.

Fertilizer

Low nitrogen. High potassium. High phosphorus. This plant is a [nitrogen fixer], of course, so may actually improve the soil.

Seeds

Seed Viability:3 - 5 Years

Germination Percentage:75.0

Saving seed is pretty straightforward, just leave the pods on the vine until they mature and the seeds are dry. The flowers are pollinated by bees and hummingbirds, or they can self-pollinate (but they still need to be visited by insects to trip them). It's best to have only one variety flowering at a time within a half-mile.

Be aware that some viruses may be transmitted through the seed. Try not to gather seeds from diseased plants.

Light

Sun: min. 6 hours daily

Full sun.

Conditions:Cool, Warm

Season:Long Season

• Scarlet Runner

In the U.S., the Scarlet Runner Bean is most often grown as an ornamental, and as a result, there aren't many improved edible cultivars available. Fortunately with the increasing interest in heirlooms and unusual edibles more are now appearing.

These plants are quite ornamental with red, white, red and white, or even pink flowers.

Pests

Diseases