Phaseolus coccineus 'Streamline' - Runner Bean [British Grown]

A vegetable vine, producing a heavy crop of runner beans for your kitchen. Half-hardy in the UK, they are usually grown as an annual here.

Grow your own runner beans with this popular, reliably heavy-cropping variety! The plants themselves are also lovely to look at, with beautiful foliage and fragrant, scarlet flowers in summer. Once established, they just need a little extra water in dry weather to keep them happy and they will give you plenty of veg and beauty in return. They grow tall, so it's a good idea to give your plant a cane or netting for support; you can eat the beans raw straight from the plant, cooked in soups or anything in between; even the flowers are edible! They also stay fresh on the plant longer than many other varieties. Due to their shallow roots, they can be grown in containers too! Just remember to wait until the risk of frost has fully passed before you plant outside.

Scientific Name
Phaseolus coccineus (red bean) 'Streamline'

Common Name
Runner Bean, Scarlet Runners

Origin
Native to cooler, high altitude areas in central & northern parts of South America

Pruning Tips
It's a good idea to grow up a support; prune back shoots that grow over the top to encourage side shoots lower down. And don't forget to harvest the beans! This will encourage more to grow as well as filling your plate. Pick the pods when they are young, tender and stringless, and harvest every few days to make sure you harvest at the right time. If you let the pods get too mature, the plant will stop producing new fruit.

Wildlife Value
This plant's flowers are pollinated by honey bees and long-tongued bumblebees.

Positioning
Give this plant a sunny, sheltered spots to help it thrive the best.

Water
This plant has shallow roots, so needs water a couple of times a week; in dry weather, make sure you step up and water them!

Soil
A soil that will retain moisture is perfect for runner beans. Fork lots of fresh compost into the ground a couple of weeks before planting for best results. Alkaline soil will yield best results.

Food
Dig over and add plenty of fresh compost before planting to ensure enough nutrients are present in the soil. Add a layer of mulch in July to help keep the soil moist.

Pet-safe
No; runner beans are toxic to cats and can be harmful to other pets too. They are edible for humans though!

Sprouts Top Tips
These plants have been reared from seed indoors, so keep growing them in a bright, warm indoor spot until the risk of frost has fully passed (here in Bristol, this is late May); after that, they will do best in the ground or in a large container, in a sheltered, sunny spot. They have shallow roots, so make sure they get extra water in dry spells.

Extras
Runner beans get nitrogen from the air, so even after harvesting the soil here will have plenty of nitrogen left in it!