Crops › Runner Beans
How to grow Runner Beans
in the UK
Sow May to June, plant out July, harvest July to October. About 75 days from seed to plate.
Runner beans, eh? Proper easy to grow and they give you a cracking harvest all through summer. They look grand on the plot too, scrambling up their supports, a real staple for any gardener, beginner or not.
Sowing
You can get your runner beans going indoors in May, sticking a seed about 5 cm deep in a small pot of compost. Keep 'em warm on a windowsill, like. Or, if you're feeling brave and the risk of a late frost has passed, usually late May or June up here in the North East, you can sow them straight into the ground. Space them about 15-20 cm apart. We sow a few every couple of weeks, you know, for a steady supply.
Growing on
Once your indoor seedlings have a few proper leaves, you'll want to harden them off for a week or two before planting them out after the last frost. Give them plenty of space, maybe 20-30 cm between plants, and make sure they've got some strong supports ready. Canes in a wigwam are classic, or netting works a treat, they'll climb up a good couple of metres, no bother.
Looking after it
Runner beans are thirsty things, especially when they're flowering and setting pods, so give them a good drink regularly. A bit of homemade compost or well-rotted manure around the base helps keep the moisture in and feeds 'em. Once they reach the top of their supports, just pinch out the growing tips, that encourages more side shoots and more beans. Keep picking too, that's key.
What goes wrong
To be honest, runner beans are pretty hardy. Slugs can be a pain when the young plants are just coming up, so keep an eye out for them. Blackfly can sometimes cluster on the growing tips too, a quick spray with soapy water usually sorts them. Halo blight can happen if it's wet and cold, but good air circulation helps avoid it.
Harvest
You'll be picking runner beans from July right through to October, about 75 days after sowing, if you're lucky. Don't let them get too big and stringy; pick them when they're young and tender for the best flavour. Snip 'em off with scissors or a sharp knife. If you get a proper glut, slice and blanch them for freezing, or you can even salt them for later, like me mam used to.
I always put a couple of bucket loads of well-rotted manure right where the beans are going to be planted; it makes a cracking difference to the plants and the yield, you know.
Dates for your plot
Type the first half of your postcode and the plant-out advice shifts to your area's typical frost dates.
Varieties, and whether the club would grow them again
| Variety | Club verdict |
|---|---|
| Scarlet Emperor A proper classic heritage variety, famous for its bright red flowers and heavy crops. Great if you want a reliable old-timer that's been around for ages. | No club votes yet |
| Enorma This one's a champion for exhibition, producing really long pods that are stringless when young. If you're after a big harvest and impressive beans, this is your choice. | No club votes yet |
| Painted Lady A lovely heritage variety with striking bicolour red and white flowers, dating all the way back to 1855. Grow this for a bit of history and a pretty display on the plot. | No club votes yet |
| White Lady This variety boasts white flowers, which are apparently less attractive to birds, so your beans might be safer. It's a solid maincrop choice for a good steady supply. | No club votes yet |
| Moonlight A self-pollinating variety, making it great for sheltered spots or if the weather's a bit iffy. You'll get a good crop even when other beans struggle. | No club votes yet |
| Lady Di Known for its long, straight pods that stay stringless, making them a joy to prepare. A cracking outdoor variety if you want easy-to-eat beans. | No club votes yet |
| Firestorm This self-fertile variety is a bit of a hero, setting pods reliably even in poor or windy weather. Perfect if your plot is a bit exposed or you get unpredictable summers. | No club votes yet |
| Tenderstar True to its name, this one gives you stringless, tender pods that are a delight to eat. There's even a dwarf option if you're short on space. | No club votes yet |
| Polestar A heavy cropping variety that produces long, straight pods, giving you plenty to pick. This is a top choice for a massive harvest from your outdoor patch. | No club votes yet |
| Hestia A brilliant dwarf bush variety that doesn't need any support, making it perfect for pots and smaller spaces. If you've only got a patio, Hestia's your friend. | No club votes yet |
| Benchmaster An exhibition variety that lives up to its name, producing very long, smooth pods. If you fancy showing off your growing skills, this one's for you. | No club votes yet |
| Celebration With its pretty pink flowers and good flavour, this is a reliable maincrop variety that's a joy to grow. You'll get a steady, tasty harvest without too much fuss. | No club votes yet |
Votes are members rating varieties in their Seed Tin, one vote per gardener. Tap a variety for the full page and where to buy.
Buy Runner Beans seeds
Partner retailers. If you buy through these links we may earn a small commission. It never costs you more.
Cook the harvest
This is the salad to make when the garden is producing more beans than you know what to do with. Blanched until just tender, the runner beans are dressed while still warm so they absorb every bit of the sharp mustardy vinaigrette. Ripe tomatoes and plenty of fresh herbs turn it into something genuinely special.
15 min · easyThis is the Italian approach to a bean soup — honest, filling and built on good stock. Thick slices of runner bean and waxy potato simmer until just tender, then the whole pot gets lifted at the last moment with a generous spoonful of basil pesto swirled through each bowl. It tastes like something that took all day, but comes together in under an hour.
45 min · easyA fragrant South-East Asian-inspired curry where thick-cut runner beans simmer in a golden turmeric and coconut milk broth until just tender. Crispy fried shallots on top add crunch and sweetness. This is a proper weeknight vegetable main that asks nothing of you but a good pile of jasmine rice alongside.
40 min · easyShredded runner beans are the backbone of these crisp, salty fritters — far more interesting than a standard courgette fritter and a brilliant use of a glut. Feta and fresh dill weave through the batter so every bite has a salty, herby hit. Serve as a light lunch with a spoonful of Greek yoghurt and some dressed salad leaves.
40 min · easyWatch for, and grow alongside
Companions: sweetcorn, lettuce, carrots
Questions people ask
When do you sow Runner Beans in the UK?
Sow Runner Beans from May to June. Plant out July, after the last frost.
How long does Runner Beans take from sowing to harvest?
Roughly 75 days, with the harvest July to October.
Which Runner Beans varieties do gardeners grow again?
Club members rate every variety they grow. This page shows the grow-again votes for Scarlet Emperor, Enorma, Painted Lady, White Lady and more.
Track your Runner Beans from packet to plate
Sowing reminders and harvest forecasts for your own frost dates, the Seed Tin, Scan Centre for any label or packet, and the Potty Mouth Garden Club. Free to start.
Allotment keeper in the North East of England, the voice behind the Tony C Smith YouTube channel, and the gardener who built GrowMore CookMore. Club numbers on this page update as members log their plots. Last updated 3 September 2026.