Sow indoors
April – May
Sow direct
May – June
Plant out
May – June
Harvest
July – October
Days to maturity
60–80 days
Position
Full sun
Frost sensitive
Yes
Min soil temp
12°C
Sowing and planting calendar
| Method | From | To | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sow indoors | April | May | In individual pots. Plant out after last frost. |
| Sow direct | May | June | After last frost. Sow 5cm deep, 15cm apart. |
Regional variation: Never sow or plant out runner beans before the last frost — they're extremely frost-tender. In Scotland, wait until early June for outdoor sowing.
Growing tips
Build a strong support before planting
Runner beans grow to 2–3m and need solid support. A wigwam of canes, a double row structure, or a bean frame all work. Put it up before planting — trying to add support to established plants damages roots.
Sow seeds with rounded end down
The round end is the root end. Plant 5cm deep with the pointed end facing up. Germination is fast in warm soil — usually 7–10 days.
Water roots, not leaves, in hot weather
In hot spells, flowers can drop without setting pods. Keep roots consistently moist, mulch around plants, and mist flowers in the early morning to help pollination.
Pick every 2–3 days
This is the most important growing tip. Leaving pods on the plant suppresses further production. The more you pick, the more the plant produces — right through to autumn.
Common problems
Poor pod set
Plants flower well but few pods develop — common in very hot, dry conditions when pollination fails.
Fix: Water consistently at the roots. Mist flowers in the early morning. Ensure bees can access the flowers freely.
Blackfly
Dense colonies of black aphids on growing tips and young pods from June onwards.
Fix: Pinch out growing tips when plants reach the top of their supports — this removes the soft growth aphids prefer.
Frequently asked questions
When should I sow runner beans?
Sow indoors from April, or direct outdoors from late May after the last frost. Never plant out before nights are reliably frost-free.
Why aren't my runner bean flowers setting pods?
Usually caused by dry conditions or heat stress during flowering. Water consistently at the roots and mist flowers in the early morning to improve pollination.
How long will runner beans keep producing?
If you pick regularly, plants will produce from July right through to October. One cold night is usually what ends the season — they're killed by the first frost.
Related guides
Keep track of your runner beans in Vercro
Add your runner beans to a bed and each morning Today shows the jobs that matter for them, from how far along they are and your local forecast. Log every pick in the Record.
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