Runner beanPhaseolus coccineus

Runner bean

Runner beans

1. Lipusa multiflora
2. Phaseolus multiflorus
3. Phaseolus vulgaris var. coccineus

1. Scarlet runner bean
2. Multiflora bean
3. Seven year bean
4. Butter bean

1. Fancy bean

1. Käferbohne (Österreich)

1. Gigantes

1. Giant beans

1. NameButter bean

   Languageen

   Shared with

   1. Phaseolus lunatus

   Clarification

   Usually refers to Lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus), but used for P. coccineus in some regions.

1. Runner bean
2. Scarlet runner
3. Snap bean

1. Tracheophyta
2. Angiospermae
3. Eudicotidae
4. Rosids
5. Fabids

Legumes

1. Phaseolus vulgaris
2. Phaseolus lunatus
3. Phaseolus dumosus

1. Seeds
2. Pods (young)
3. Flowers
4. Tubers

The runner bean is a garden powerhouse that perfectly combines utility and ornament. With its vibrant red flowers and rapid climbing habit, it is both a visual highlight and a provider of plentiful, tasty pods and seeds.

Originating from the highlands of Central America, it reached Europe in the 17th century and was initially prized as an ornamental plant for its beautiful blossoms.

1. Tasksupport_setup

   Label

   Install climbing support

   Priorityhigh

   Months

   1. 5

   Conditionbefore_sowing

   Estimated effortmedium

   Notes

   Anchor poles or trellises firmly before sowing.

1. Taskwatering

   Label

   Consistent watering

   Priorityhigh

   Months

   1. 7
   2. 8

   Conditionflowering_stage

   Estimated effortmedium

   Notes

   Water stress during flowering causes blossoms to drop.

Sunny to partial shade, sheltered from wind

Tolerates cooler locations better than the common bean.

Humus-rich, deep, medium-heavy

Lime-loving; avoid cold, waterlogged soils.

Water regularly, especially during flowering and heatwaves.

Blossom drop and tough pods during drought.

Base fertilization with compost before sowing; optional potassium-rich top dressing.

Fixes atmospheric nitrogen; leave root stocks in the soil after harvest.

Good neighbors: Corn, cabbage, cucumbers. Bad neighbors: Onions, garlic.

1. Heavy feeders
2. Brassicas
3. Tomatoes
4. Potatoes

1. Light feeders
2. Lettuce
3. Spinach
4. Strawberries

Runner beans enrich soil with nitrogen; leave roots in the ground as green manure.

1. Aphids
2. Mites
3. Slugs

1. Fungal diseases
2. Viruses

1. Sufficient spacing for air circulation
2. Use only healthy seeds
3. Keep soil loose and weed-free

Most common cause of crop failure in runner beans is water stress during flowering.

1. Slugbotrytis-cinerea

   Severitymedium

   Conditions

   1. High humidity
   2. Cool weather

   Affected parts

   1. Flowers
   2. Pods

   Prevention

   1. Choose an airy location
   2. Do not water foliage

   Organic control

   1. Remove affected parts
   2. Horsetail extract

1. Symptom

   Yellow leaves with green veins

   Possible causes

   1. manganese_deficiency
   2. magnesium_deficiency

   First checks

   1. Check soil pH

1. Bean rust
2. Mosaic virus
3. Bean seed fly

1. Germination (epigeal)
2. Primary leaf formation
3. Vining and climbing stage
4. Flower bud formation
5. Main flowering
6. Pod set
7. Seed maturation
8. Senescence (at frost)

Fast-growing climber; unlike common beans, runner beans exhibit hypogeal germination where cotyledons remain below ground.

June to September

Scarlet red, occasionally white or bicolor

Raceme

July to October

0.5 to 1.5 kg per plant

Every 2-3 days for young pods; once for dry beans in autumn.

1. Pods are crisp and snap cleanly (green consumption)
2. Pods are brown, dry, and parchment-like (dry beans)
3. Seeds cannot be indented with a fingernail

Process fresh pods quickly; clean dry beans and store in a cool place.

In the refrigerator approx. 2-4 days

Drying, freezing (after blanching), or canning

Legume (fresh or dried)

Dried 1-2 years; frozen approx. 12 months.

1. Drying
2. Freezing
3. Canning
4. Lacto-fermentation

Edible bean (vegetable or pulse)

Low, mainly home gardens and direct marketing.

1. Boiling
2. Steaming
3. Stewing

Large, meaty seeds with a nutty flavor; young pods are slightly coarser than common beans.

1. Pods (young)
2. Seeds (mature and immature)
3. Flowers
4. Root tubers (cooked)

1. Raw seeds and pods (phytohaemagglutinin content)

Contains the toxin phytohaemagglutinin (lectin) when raw, which is destroyed by boiling for at least 10 minutes.

Not suitable for raw consumption (toxic).

Easy to medium

500 - 1000 meters (due to cross-pollination)

1. Vigor
2. Profusion of flowers
3. Pod shape
4. Cold tolerance

Crosses easily with other runner bean varieties, but not with common beans (P. vulgaris).

1. Wigwam system
2. Double row A-frame
3. Single pole cluster

Although botanically perennial, runner beans are usually grown as annuals in Central Europe. Pruning is primarily relevant to encourage harvest.

Important nectar source for bumblebees and long-tongued bees; serves as a foraging habitat for various insects.

Time for soil preparation and installing climbing supports.