Key Facts
- Tender climbing vine grown for showy red flowers and edible pods.
- Often grown as a perennial in frost free areas and as an annual in colder climates.
- Attractive to hummingbirds and pollinators.
- Produces both edible young pods and dry seeds when matured.
- Requires sturdy support such as poles or trellis.
- Can form nitrogen fixing root nodules and improve soil fertility.
- Prefers fertile, well drained soil and regular moisture during flowering.
- Raw or undercooked seeds may cause gastrointestinal upset due to lectins.
Scarlet Runner Beans are a tender climbing bean prized for bright red flowers and edible young pods. They make an attractive tall screen and a hummingbird magnet but survive as perennials only in frost free areas, with colder gardens treating them as annuals.
Identification
Vigorous climbing vine with showy red flowers and narrow edible pods. Plants typically reach six to ten feet tall when trained on supports and produce both young green pods for eating and mature dry seeds for saving. Flowers draw hummingbirds and other pollinators and plants can form nitrogen fixing root nodules that benefit soil fertility.
Where to grow and best uses
Grow in full sun for best flowering and pod set though plants tolerate some partial shade in hot climates. Use them on a trellis or poles to create a decorative edible screen, to add vertical interest in mixed borders, or to attract pollinators. In USDA zones seven to ten they can persist as perennials.
Planting time and spacing
Sow seeds after the last frost or start seeds indoors for an earlier crop then transplant once risk of frost has passed. Space plants about 30 to 60 centimetres apart in rows when growing for pods. Provide room for the base of the vine rather than wide lateral spreading because the plants climb vertically.
Watering and soil
Prefer fertile well drained soil with steady moisture during flowering to support good pod set. Soils near neutral with a pH around six to seven and a half suit them best and waterlogged sites will reduce performance. Inconsistent moisture during bloom often causes poor pod development and fewer usable beans.
Support and training
Require sturdy support such as poles or a strong trellis to climb and reach their typical height. Train young shoots upward and tie when needed to guide growth. Strong supports speed vertical growth and keep pods off the ground which reduces rot and makes harvesting easier.
After flowering care and harvest
Harvest young pods while tender for fresh eating or leave to mature for dry seed. Regular picking of edible pods encourages more production. Exercise caution with mature seeds because raw or undercooked seeds can cause gastrointestinal upset due to lectins so dry beans must be prepared properly before eating.
Managing spread and overwintering
Plants will reseed where dry beans are left and can regrow from crowns in mild climates. Perennial survival declines with hard frost so in colder regions gardeners typically reseed each year. Remove unwanted seedlings and tidy plants before winter in marginal areas to limit self seeding and spread.
Propagation
Main propagation is by seed sown after danger of frost or started under cover for earlier cropping. In frost free areas plants may persist and regrow from roots, but elsewhere plan to replant annually. Save fully mature dry seeds for next season if you want to maintain specific varieties.
Frequently asked questions
- How fast does Scarlet Runner Beans grow?
- They are a rapid and vigorous climber often reaching six to ten feet during a single season when given warm conditions and sturdy support. Growth rate depends on temperature soil fertility and available light.
- Are Scarlet Runner Beans perennial?
- They are often perennial in USDA zones seven to ten where frosts are rare. In colder areas they are usually grown as annuals and reseeded each year.
- Are the beans edible?
- Young pods are eaten like green beans and are safe when cooked. Mature dry seeds must be cooked fully because raw or undercooked seeds can cause gastrointestinal upset.
- How far apart should I plant them?
- Space plants about thirty to sixty centimetres apart in rows to give each vine room at the base while allowing vertical climbing on supports.
- When do they bloom?
- Flowers appear in summer and often continue into early autumn depending on planting date and local climate.
- Do they attract pollinators?
- Yes the bright red flowers are attractive to hummingbirds and other pollinators which helps pod set.
Related Plants
