How to grow runner bean

Growing runner bean for the first time

Difficulty: Easy · Sun: full sun · Ready in: about 80 days

1. Choose the spot

Pick a sunny spot (6+ hours of sun). It does best in loam, clay soil with a pH of 6.0–7.5. Avoid sandy soil, or improve it with compost.

2. Sow or plant

Sow outdoors in May, Jun. Start indoors or under cover in Apr, May. Space plants about 20 cm apart.

3. Look after it

• Water roughly every 2 days, more in hot or dry weather. Water the soil, not the leaves.
• No regular feeding needed in good soil — a mulch of compost is enough.
• Keep weeds down, and add a daily note and photo to your BeAgric grow diary so you can spot problems early.

4. Watch for problems

Common problems: Blackfly, Slugs. Take a photo with Check a plant if leaves look spotted, yellow or wilted.

5. Organic tip

Dig a trench of compost in winter for moisture. Spray flowers with water in dry spells to help pods set.

6. Harvest

Expect your first harvest about 80 days after planting. Record it in Harvests and list any spare on the marketplace.