Scarlet Runner Bean (Phaseolus coccineus)

A vigorous, vining heirloom runner bean, loved for its blazing red showy blossoms, pollinator power, and tasty beans. Perfect for trellises, fences, or corn, vines can climb 8–12 ft and make a beautiful edible screen. They are a cool cloudy wet crop,bigger flat furry shell, self pollinating but need bugs to “trip blooming.”

Different from other pole beans, runner beans have hypogeal germination, which means that their cotyledons stay tucked beneath the soil. Sow outdoors after the last frost,, 2–3 cm deep, spacing 10–15 cm (or 4–6 seeds per pole/teepee). Keep evenly watered during flowering and pod set. The true leaves will be the first part of the plant to emerge.Harvest young pods for tender snap beans, or let pods mature for creamy, chestnut-flavored dry beans. Days to maturity: ~75–90.   Chigarden 2026