The Runner Bean - a must have for any veg plot

 I am trying out a new Runner Bean (for me) this year in the shape of Benchmaster, purchased from Thompson & Morgan. The seeds were sown last weekend, Sunday 21st February, which is actually a little late for me, and currently reside in the conservatory. Described as a top quality, red flowered British-bred variety producing pods of over 40cm in length. Abundant crops of pods hang in clusters and are fleshy, but slender, smooth and straight.

My fingers are crossed for a bumper harvest. 

I honestly believe you cannot consider yourself a veg gardener unless you are growing Runner Beans on your plot. My Grandad grew them, my Dad grew them, and they are a standard for me, the one crop you can be sure will be in the ground every year.  Easy to freeze for storing, just last Sunday the roast pork was accompanied by runners that had been grown on the plot in 2020 and frozen for use later; stores are running a little low now, but I should have enough to see me through until this years harvest can be enjoyed. As a bonus you will always get a glut at some point with plenty to share with family, friends and colleagues, which in my experience can make you pretty popular. If you aren't planning on growing them this year you really should, get yourself a pack of seeds and get sowing. 

I sow into pots in February, earlier than usually suggested but I am an impatient bugger and like to get them going. The pots are placed in the conservatory to help the seeds germinate and once germinated will generally stay there for a week or three before being moved to the greenhouse. A couple of weeks in the greenhouse is usually long enough to see some strong steady growth at which point, weather allowing in March, I will begin the hardening off process moving the pots outside for a few hours each day before moving back into the relative warmth and shelter of the greenhouse overnight. By late March / early April the seedlings are strong enough to be planted out. I usually get away with it in my neck of the woods though I appreciate though from more northern climes will be laughing at the thought of planting out that early in the season. I have had my fingers burnt, or should I say seedlings burnt, once with a late frost but that is the way I do it and most of the time it works just fine for me. Do be aware of the last frost date in your area though as it can be several weeks later up north to down south and a real cold night will do for your seedlings and you will have to start all over from scratch and in fact end up with late sowings rather than early ones!!

Cobble yourself together a basic wigwam with some canes and before you know it you will be harvesting bundles of lovely, tasty beans a couple of times a week throughout summer and well into autumn; I have had beans still coming in October and even the first week of November in milder autumns.  

A few things to remember, runner beans like a warm sunny spot in well-draining soil and if you can it is best to fork in plenty of well-rotted manure and or compost to the bed you are using. They are quite thirsty plants so make sure the soil is constantly damp and does not dry out, you can add a mulch after planting to help with this. Water often, preferably in the evening, and I feed with liquid seaweed or tomato feed at least once a week during the season. 

At a time when all the chatter on the internet seems to be about mindfulness and wellbeing there is little more relaxing and stress relieving than strolling around the veg patch watering your crops in the late evening sunshine. And once finished, you can settle down on your favourite garden seat, admiring your work with the tipple of your choice.

Cheers 🍺