Expert gardeners offer advice on optimal planting times for runner beans outdoors, plus techniques for successful transplanting, guaranteeing robust, plentiful harvests this growing season.
Growing Runner Beans: All You Need to Know
Harper's Bazaar Gardening warmly invites you to join us as we dabble in the captivating world of home cultivation, focusing our attention on one undeniably delightful vegetable: runner beans. This delectable and ornamental morsel is a perfect pick for growing enthusiasts, especially those new to gardening.
Runner beans are the ultimate crowd-pleasing plant. They are optimal for anyone eager to taste the rewards of their green thumb, boasting high germination success and unyielding productivity.
Kate Cotterill, CEO and founder of heirloom seed company, She Grows Veg, highlights the appeal of runner beans, detailing, "They can be considered on the list of easy crops to grow in so far as they're easy to plant and germinate and don't require any particularly difficult conditions."
As Emma O'Neill, head gardener at sustainable gardening charity Garden Organic, points out, "My favorite thing about growing runner beans is that they are really easy to grow, germination is high, and productivity is lengthy, from mid-summer to early autumn."
With all this talk of ease and abundance, the question remains, when is the perfect moment to plant our beloved runner beans outside? Let's delve into the wisdom of the experts.
May and June are the ideal months for planting these splendid climbers where the risk of late frosts has passed. To ensure successful growth, one must first prepare the ground. Runner beans thrive in a sheltered spot with ample sunshine. Make sure to clear the soil of any large weeds that may deplete its vital resources.
Kate Cotterill provides some additional insights: "Sowing the seeds indoors is wiser; they can be susceptible to pests and diseases like any crop, so it's a good idea to start seeds off in a greenhouse or on a windowsill if you can. They can, of course, be sown directly where they are to grow, but it leaves you open to slugs."
When the time comes to transplant your runner beans, they can flourish vertically either around a wigwam of canes or two parallel lines of poles. The young plants should be spaced at approximately 30cm apart, and around 45cm between rows to allow for harmonious growth. To transplant them, dig a hole at the base of each cane, gently lever the young plant out of its pot, and place it into the hole. Gently fill the hole with dug-out soil, press down, and water in place.
As for maintaining a thriving runner bean crop, Kate offers some advice: "For healthy runner bean plants, keep them well-watered and consider a companion plant like marigolds that will help deter aphids."
To wrap up, runner beans are resilient, productive, and a joy to grow. Choose the right season, prepare your soil, establish a sturdy support system, and seed directly outdoors, taking care to acclimate young plants to outdoor conditions gradually. Harnessing these simple techniques, you will be well on your way to a rewarding harvest and a radiant garden for all to admire.
Incorporating runner beans into your home-and-garden lifestyle would not only elevate your gardening endeavors but also grace your home-grown produce collection. Following the expert's advice, plant your runner beans in May or June, preparing the ground appropriately, and providing a suitable support system for their vertical growth.
