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Runner Beans — Phaseolus coccineus

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Runner Beans — Phaseolus coccineus

layout: base.njk title: Runner Beans description: Growing Runner Beans in West Virginia (Zone 6b/7a) category: warm-season

Quick Reference: See detailed growing information below

Type: Annual (perennial in tropics)
Family: Fabaceae (Legume)
Sun: Full sun (6-8+ hours)
Water: Moderate to High (1-2" per week)
Soil pH: 6.0-6.5
Hardiness: Annual (frost-tender; tuberous roots perennial in zones 9+)

🌱 Expected Yield

  • Per plant: 1-3 lbs (varies with harvest frequency)
  • Per 10' row: 15-25 lbs (6-8 plants on trellis)
  • Notes: Runner beans are vigorous growers (8-12 feet) and very productive. Harvest young pods (before fibers develop) for best quality. Older pods become stringy but beans inside can be shelled. Tubers can be dug and stored indoors over winter for replanting.

🏺 Heirloom Varieties

'Scarlet Runner' (Standard)

  • Source: Baker Creek (rareseeds.com), Seed Savers Exchange (seedsavers.org), Southern Exposure (southernexposure.com)
  • Days: 75 days
  • Notes: Most common variety. Brilliant scarlet-red flowers. Mottled mahogany-black beans. Young pods edible; mature beans for shelling. Attracts hummingbirds. Perennial roots in zones 9+. Beautiful ornamental.

'White Runner'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Seed Savers Exchange
  • Days: 75 days
  • Notes: Pure white flowers. Cream-white beans with slight mottling. Milder flavor than scarlet type. Elegant appearance. Less common than red-flowered form.

'Sunbright'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Johnny's Seeds (johnnyseeds.com)
  • Days: 70 days
  • Notes: Orange-salmon flowers. Unique warm color. Cream beans with orange speckles. Good fresh or dried. Vigorous vines. Less common, striking.

'Hammond's Scarlet'

  • Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek
  • Days: 75 days
  • Notes: Selected strain of Scarlet Runner. Larger seed, more flowers. Deep scarlet blooms. Reliable producer. Named for collector.

'Painted Lady'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Southern Exposure
  • Days: 75 days
  • Notes: Bicolor flowers—scarlet and white. Stunning display. Mottled beans. Ornamental价值和 edible. Victorian garden favorite. Beautiful on trellis.

'Carne' (Flesh-Colored)

  • Source: Baker Creek, European seed exchanges
  • Days: 75 days
  • Notes: Pale pink flowers. Light-colored beans. Mild, sweet flavor. Italian heirloom. Used fresh and dried. Less common in America.

'Black Russian'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Seed Savers Exchange
  • Days: 75 days
  • Notes: Deep burgundy-red flowers, nearly black. Dark beans. Dramatic appearance. Vigorous vines. Russian heritage. Ornamental value.

'Dutch Case Knifework'

  • Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek
  • Days: 70 days
  • Notes: White flowers. Flat, broad pods—excellent for fresh eating. Stringless when young. Dutch heirloom. Prolific producer.

'St. George'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Southern Exposure
  • Days: 75 days
  • Notes: Red flowers with white wings. Striking bicolor. Good pod production. Named for patron saint. Vigorous.

'Lady Di'

  • Source: Baker Creek, specialty seed companies
  • Days: 75 days
  • Notes: Named for Princess Diana. Pink and white flowers. Cream beans. Elegant appearance. Good flavor. Modern heirloom.

'Goliath'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Seed Savers Exchange
  • Days: 70 days
  • Notes: Extra-large pods. Red flowers. Vigorous vines to 12 feet. High yield. German heirloom. Excellent for fresh eating.

'Alabaster'

  • Source: Baker Creek, specialty heirloom companies
  • Days: 75 days
  • Notes: Pure white flowers, larger than typical. White beans. Clean, elegant appearance. Rare variety. Good yield.

🌾 Seed Saving

Method: 1. Choose healthy, vigorous plants with desirable traits 2. Leave pods on plants until fully mature—pods turn brown, dry, and papery 3.

Harvest dry pods before rain (can cause molding) 4. Spread pods in dry, ventilated area; cure 1-2 weeks 5. Shell beans by hand; pods should be brittle 6.

Winnow to remove debris—pour beans between bowls in light breeze 7. Ensure beans completely dry (test by biting—should be hard) 8. Store in glass jars or paper envelopes in cool, dry, dark place 9.

Add desiccant if humidity high.

Note: Runner bean seeds are larger and flatter than common bean seeds.

Isolation Distance: - Cross-pollinating: Runner beans are primarily CROSS-pollinated by bees and hummingbirds (unlike self-pollinating common beans) - Minimum: 300-500 feet between varieties - For seed sale: 1/2 mile isolation or cage flowers - Critical: Different species from common beans (P. coccineus vs. P. vulgaris)—no crossing between species

Viability: 3-5 years under proper storage. Germination declines after year 3.

Special Notes: - Save from 10-20 plants for genetic diversity (critical due to cross-pollination) - Select for flower color, pod quality, flavor, earliness, vigor - Can save tuberous roots in fall for replanting (dig after frost kills vines, store in sand in cool place) - Only save from healthy plants - For ornamental varieties, select for flower color and abundance - For eating varieties, select for pod quality and flavor

Added to WV Planting Guide 26155 — The Loop Farmstead