Runner Bean — Vegetables

Phaseolus coccineus

Full sun, regular watering — frost tender — shelter over winter.

Photograph of Runner Bean — iNaturalist / GBIF

Sow: Apr–May
Harvest: Aug
In flower: Jun, Jul, Aug

Sun: Full sun
Water: High
Difficulty: Demanding
Hardiness: H2
Season: summer
Height: 250–400 cm
Spacing: 150 cm
Pets: Toxic to pets
Bee friendly: Bee friendly

Grows well with

French Marigold — Marigolds are often grown by runner beans for their strong scent, which is said to keep aphids off the crop.Cabbage — Do not expect the beans to feed the cabbages. Beans fix nitrogen for themselves, and it has been shown that it does not pass to the plants around them unless you cut the beans down before they flower and set seed.Calendula (Pot Marigold) — Gardeners commonly sow pot marigolds beside runner beans, hoping the flowers pull in hoverflies and ladybirds that eat aphids.Courgette — Beans are among the crops recommended to share a zone with courgettes, along with onions, beetroot, carrots, fennel and dill, so runner beans and courgettes can go in together.Nasturtium — Nasturtiums are a usual neighbour for runner beans, grown for the insects their flowers bring in.Sweet Corn — Do not use runner beans to climb your sweetcorn - they grow too strongly and swamp the corn. Climbing French beans are the ones for this job.

Growing notes

Grows to 2.5-4 metres. Space about 100-150cm apart. In flower Jun-Aug.

Toxic to pets

Raw pods and beans are harmful if eaten, for people and for pets; properly cooked beans are fine. Don't eat them raw and keep raw beans and pods away from children and pets; the RHS also notes the plant can irritate or sensitise skin. If someone eats raw beans, get medical advice; for a pet, contact a vet.

→ NHS 111 for a person; your vet or the Animal PoisonLine for an animal