Which beans to grow?
Runner beans, such as old favourite Scarlet Runner, are perennial in warmer areas, but crop more consistently in cooler climates. As they lose vigour quickly after the first season, most gardeners prefer to plant fresh seed every year.
Climbing beans are annuals and most varieties are of the French green bean type – long and slender, mild in flavour, stringless, juicy and crisp. Plant runners and climbers against sturdy supports, 10 to 15cm apart, in rows 1m apart, or grow up a wigwam.
Dwarf beans are quicker to crop, although not as high-yielding or long-cropping as runners. They benefit from a few small stakes poked between plants to hold them up under the weight of the crop. Plant dwarf beans 10 to 15cm apart in rows 30cm apart. I plant dwarf butter beans as an edging, as they’re so pretty.
Dried beans are the seeds from mature, swollen bean pods. oost beans can be dried for use over winter, but two popular varieties grown specifically for drying are nutty flavoured dwarf Canellino and buttery textured climber Lima del Papa, also known as the Pope’s Bean, although originally from Peru.
Heirloom varieties
Adventurous gardeners like trying out heirloom varieties, which not only bring the vege garden alive with fantastic colour, but also your dinner plate.
Among the dwarf types are Italian heirlooms Albenga and Borlotto Fire Tongue, which both produce beautifully mottled pods, and the gorgeous yellow French heirloom Roquefort.
Climbing heirlooms King of the Blues and Neekar Golden Runner look stunning climbing up a wigwam together!
Click your way to www.kingsseeds.co.nz for details on yet more heirloom varieties, including those pictured.
Common gripes
Seed failing to germinate is a common gripe often blamed on poor seed quality. A more likely reason however, is soil temperature, which needs to be around 15°C for bean seed to germinate.
As the mean soil temperature doesn’t reach this until November in warmer areas of the North Island and until December in parts of the South Island, it’s understandable that germination can be a problem. Sowing seed in peat pots is therefore a good idea, especially in cooler climes.
Another common gripe is runner beans that flower but fail to crop. A lack of bees is partly to blame, or possibly bumble bees that nip off the flowers to get at the nectar.
A lesser-known cause, and more of a problem in warmer climates, is that runner beans cease setting once night temperatures hit 16°C.
What beans need:
Sun, shelter and a strong support for climbing beans
Warm, well-drained, loamy soil
oature compost and general fertiliser worked through the soil prior to planting
Protection from naughty slugs and snails
Regular liquid feeding with high potash fertiliser
Consistently moist soil
A mulch of straw to retain soil moisture
Regular misting of leaves to prevent red spider mites
organic insecticide to blast aphids and green vege bugs if necessary
Regular harvesting
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