Once mid-May rolls around, it’s finally time to get your scarlet runner beans in the ground! We wait until after the “Ice Saints” (those last potential frost dates) to make sure the nights stay warm. From June all the way into December, these beauties will brighten up your garden with stunning red, yellow, or bicolor red-and-white blooms. Plus, if you harvest them young, they are absolutely delicious. When it comes to growing runner beans, you’ve got two main options.
Starting Runner Beans Indoors
If you want a head start, you can begin pre-growing your runner beans indoors in April. Grab some small starter pots and fill them with potting soil. You’ll want to plant the seeds about an inch (two to three centimeters) deep. Pro tip: soak your seeds in water overnight before planting to help them germinate faster!
As long as they have a warm spot on a sunny windowsill, you should see sprouts within one to two weeks. Just be careful not to overwater—runner beans aren’t big fans of “wet feet.” Once mid-May hits and the weather settles, you can transplant your seedlings outside.
Direct Sowing in the Garden
If you’d rather skip the indoor fuss (or if you just missed the April window), you can sow the seeds directly into your garden bed. Just wait until mid-May when the threat of frost has totally passed. Here’s the game plan:
- Soak your seeds overnight to give them a jumpstart.
- Loosen up the soil in your garden bed.
- Make sure the soil is relatively dry and the temperature is at least 50°F (10°C).
- Set up a trellis or climbing poles first—these vines love to climb!
- Plant about ten seeds in a circle around each pole, roughly an inch deep.
- Cover them with soil and give them a light watering.
Growing Runner Beans on a Balcony
Don’t have a huge backyard? No problem! Runner beans do great in containers. You’ll need a pot that’s about 18 inches (45 centimeters) in diameter. Fill it with a mix of potting soil and some compost or organic fertilizer (like horn shavings) to keep them fed. A pot this size can comfortably fit about six seeds.
