Best time to plant runner bean in Australia
Phaseolus coccineus
Also called scarlet runner bean, multiflora bean
Originally from the Central American mountains, runner beans are vigorous vines that can climb 3 m or more, with long pods up to 25 cm and usually red flowers. They are grown for food and for show. Cook pods and beans before eating, because raw beans can make you ill.
On a shared plot: suits a plot
Finishes in a season and stays within its space, so it suits most plots.
When to sow
| Zone | Months | How well checked |
|---|---|---|
| Cool | Oct to Jan | Not yet checked against a local guide |
| Temperate | Sep to Feb | Not yet checked against a local guide |
| Subtropical | Aug to Apr | Not yet checked against a local guide |
| Tropical | Feb to Oct | Not yet checked against a local guide |
| Arid | Sep to Feb | Not yet checked against a local guide |
Your local conditions can shift any months shown here, so treat them as a guide.
Growing details
- How to start
- Sow directly in the bed
- Sowing depth
- 25mm
- Plant spacing
- 30cm
- Row spacing
- 20cm
- Height
- 300cm
- Germination
- 4-7 days at 16-22°C
- Time to harvest
- 70-90 days
- Frost
- Frost tender
- Sun
- Full sun
- Life cycle
- perennial, grown as an annual in cool climates
These are typical figures, and varieties differ. Your seed packet takes priority.