They are productive, tasty and conquer the vegetable garden on trellises or pole tents - the runner beans. When it comes to planting and caring for them, they are more demanding than the low bush beans. A climbing aid is mandatory as they grow upwards in long tendrils. Here you will get an initial overview.
How do you plant and care for pole beans?
Runner beans are grown after the Ice Saints, i.e. around mid-May, in humus-rich, fertilized soil in sunny, wind-protected locations. A climbing aid is required; good neighbors are cucumbers, cabbage and spinach. Regular watering promotes plant he alth and the harvest begins at the end of July.
What options are there to grow runner beans?
Runner beans are either sown directly into the bed or pre-germinated on the warm windowsill from May and planted into the bed from May.
What location requirements do runner beans have?
Sunny, warm and protected from the wind - that's how the runner bean likes it. Hedges and areas protected by house walls provide wind protection.
Which substrate do pole beans prefer?
Ideal is soil rich in humus that is dug deeply before cultivation. To provide nutrients, the soil is fertilized with compost before sowing. When sowing, the soil should be at least 10 degrees Celsius warm and not waterlogged.
When are pole beans sown?
Runner beans love it warm. That's why sowing is waited until after the Ice Saints, i.e. until around mid-May. Since they only need a total of ten weeks to ripen, the last runner beans can be sown until the end of July.
What distance must be maintained when sowing or planting?
Pole beans are sown directly around the trellises. To do this, place six to eight seeds in a circle. Keep a distance of 40 – 50 cm between the trellises.
Good and bad neighbors
- good neighbors: cucumbers, cabbage, radishes, spinach, zucchini, lettuce, celery
- bad neighbors: onions, leeks, garlic, peas
How helpful are pre-germinating and pre-germinating?
Both give the runner beans a head start in growth and make them less sensitive to diseases and pests. To pre-germinate, use small containers with soil or cotton wool on the warm windowsill. Cold frames and greenhouses are suitable for growing.
When is harvest time?
The harvest of runner beans begins at the end of July. Regular picking stimulates the plant to produce new shoots, so that the harvest extends over a few weeks.
Tips & Tricks
With the formation of the first leaves and flowers, regular watering is required. Particularly in long periods of drought and heat, the runner bean reacts by shedding its flowers and leaves.