Runner beans are medium feeders, so they have a higher nutrient requirement than the undemanding bush beans. They reward the little additional effort with high yields, delicious, vitamin-rich pods and multiple harvests. Humus-rich soil, compost and organic fertilizers provide them with sufficient nutrients.
How do you fertilize runner beans correctly and in moderation?
Fertilizing runner beans correctly means using humus-rich soil and ripe compost when preparing the bed. During growth, low-nitrogen organic fertilizer, such as horn shavings or complete organic fertilizer, should be applied - ideally at the start of flowering and until harvest.
Fertilizing begins with preparing the bed
With the correct preparation of the bed, you give the runner beans the most important requirements. To do this, dig the ground deeply so that the bean plant can spread its roots downwards unhindered and remove the weeds.
Soil rich in humus is ideal for growing runner beans. You can improve simple garden soil by mixing in mature compost.
You incorporate the compost when you dig. You let the whole thing rest for two to three weeks so that the soil can enrich itself with the nutrients.
Fertilizer application during growth
To ensure that your runner beans are adequately supplied during growth, you can add more compost or organic fertilizer. Organic fertilizer for runner beans should always be low in nitrogen, as the bean plants supply themselves with nitrogen through their roots.
Suitable fertilizers are:
- Horn shavings or horn meal
- organic complete fertilizers, e.g. Fertofit garden fertilizer from Neudorff
The first fertilization takes place when flowering begins. One or two more fertilizer applications are made until harvest.
Fresh stable manure is unsuitable. The use of mineral vegetable fertilizers that contain nitrogen, phosphate and potassium should be considered.
They promise optimal care and high yields. Their use often leads to over-fertilization of the soil. And the runner bean definitely doesn’t need too many nutrients.
Tips & Tricks
For optimal yields, you should change the bed for growing runner beans every year. This will prevent the bean plants from leaching the soil.