I was frustrated with scarlet runners in Z 7, they didn't like the muggy summer weather at all, but in the mountains with cool nights (6b) they are very happy indeed. Mine bloom all summer and set a few pods, from which I harvest the dry beans in late summer. With light trimming and deep watering, the plants make a strong comeback in the fall and the immature beans that set in cool fall weather are extraordinarily sweet and tender, great to eat raw. If you don't think your plants will make it through summer, you might start some new seedlings in late summer for a fall crop.

I grew like 8 plants of scarlet runners last year. I started them indoors and when it was safe I planted them all at the base of a bamboo teepee shaped structure. I trained them up... meaning I wove them loosely around the bamboo by hand and then gently secured the tips leaving like 6" with a green zip tie. Eventually the plant just started winding around itself and then pushed out a bazillion leaves and clusters of flowers. I should say that scarlet runners are favourites for those wanting to decorate fences or places in their gardens, and the flowers are a more reliable... not to mention stunning treat in fresh garden salads than the actual beans. We got hardly any beans, but the flowers are absolutely delicious and taste like tender young beans, they're gorgeous and will make you the talk of the garden party if you show up with a scarlet runner salad with edible red flowers! My property manager used to hang out and chat just to snack on the blooms lol

They take a while to branch if the leader is damaged. They aren't really suited for covering width. They're not naturally bushy. Imo it will just become a tangled mess. As you can see it climbs by twining so it prefers to head straight up a pole or string. But you can always try. I've never attempted to grow them as anything but a straight forward pole bean. They're just grown as a common vegetable here.

I have common milkweed, swamp milkweed, beets, turnips (orgabic), hybrid pumpkins, magic hybrid pumpkin, yard long bean, hybrid radish, and some more- I don’t have my seed box on me at the moment. Just ask and I’ll let you know if I have some! I also have costa rica scarlet runner beans that lack fun pigmentation of the beans but they are white and produce the same vine and flowers.