Container size for scarlet runner bean?

9 years ago

I'm new to growing any kind of beans, and I wanted to grow runners in a container on top of our garage and let the vines run along the railings we have up there. What size container would work? I understand they need a lot of water, so people recommend large containers to retain moisture, but frequent watering would not be a problem, as I mostly work from home.

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Wild Haired Mavens

9 years ago

I grow three beans to a five gallon pot on bean poles They grow best in a self watering pot, but as long as it's at least 5 gallons they are fine. There's always a perennial in the pot. Im all organic.

Also grew six beans in a 25 gallon container On corn.

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Comments (8)

floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
9 years ago
Mavens - are these scarlet runner beans you are growing or Phaseolus vulgaris? I don't think runners would enjoy having a perennial in with them. gorbelly, if you Google growing runner beans in pots there are lots of pictures showing pot size and number of beans in each.
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What's the weather been like by you? Scarlet Runner Beans will take a break from producing beans when the weather gets hot. You'll still get flowers, but probably won't get many beans until things cool down a little.
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Over here there are many. many named cultivars selected for various traits including stringlessness. If you can only obtain something generically called 'Scarlet Runners' you may not be getting the best flavour. A bit like growing a crop of 'cabbage' or 'tomatoes' without a varietal name. coffeehaus - thanks for the mention of Kaeferbohnen. I'd never come across that use of runners before. I have a stack of dried beans - I always keep far too many for seed. Maybe I'll try that recipe. Millions of runner beans end up on composts heaps here, especially at the end of the season, because they are considered unusuable once past the green bean stage. Here is a link that might be useful: Runner bean thread
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Scarlet runner bean is one of the older runner beans native to North America and cultivated for its edible and ornamental properties. Â©2001 blossom I grow it for many reasonsÂmainly to feed hummingbirds and myself. In addition, the plant sets nitrogen in the soil. I pick a spot along the fence line to let this grow up somewhere in the garden and vary its position from year to year. Some Native American tribes regard the bean as a sacred plant. Many parts of the plant are edible, such as the pods (for green beans), dried beans, starchy roots, and edible flowers that are bean-like in taste. Use the dried beans as a substitute for garbanzo beans, limas or the Great Northern bean, and for refried beans. Since we cannot grow limas well enough in our cool Northwest climate, the scarlet runner is a good substitute. P. 'Scarlet Emperor' is a variety developed for eating them like other string beans. Harvest the pods when they are three or four inches long; after that they develop strings and parchment. Prepare and cook pods as you would other green beans. Harvest the beans when the pods have dried on the vine. Because the vine is a tender perennial, it's grown as an annual in the Pacific Northwest. Provide netting or string to train the runner beans up trellises, or arbors, at least 6 feet high. The vine is very showy and used to screen porches or twining up obelisks and other supports. Dig the roots up in fall, store them the same way as dahlias, and replant the following spring. I find this method of digging them up more trouble than itÂs worth, since the vines are easy to start from seed each year. Phaseolus coccineus is an excellent bee and hummingbird plant.
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This year, like shermthewerm, we got more matured scarlet runner beans than we need for seed next year. We had only 4 plants in a raised bed, mainly for the humming birds, and were surprised with how many beans matured. I was impressed with those long, long pods! I've cooked the dried beans in my pressure cooker, until they were tender. They do look and taste like pinto beans, but they're much larger beans by comparison. You face a really significant bean on your plate, and they don't soak up the flavor of your sauce as easily as smaller beans, kind of a little mealy because of their size. But if you are a bean lover, as we are, you'll enjoy the difference. I'd caution not to make more than you think everyone will eat at one meal. Nobody at our table greeted leftovers with that much enthusiasm. Perhaps the fault was mine as I kept the flavor simple so we could judge them on their own merit. I ended up putting them into a vegetable soup and that how my first batch of scarlet runners worked out. I'm with you, sherm, there must be someway to really dress them up!
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Wild Haired Mavens
9 years ago
yes scarlet runner beans. Beans are perfect companion plants here.

Three Sisters Planted in a Container: http://youtu.be/OAqL-y0Q23w

I documented the whole process including how to make the self watering bucket. This video was done at the beginning and the runner beans were already up to the roof When the rhubarb came out of dormacy. I also put pictures on gardenweb but cant remember my old post. See if i can find some late season video or pictures
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Wild Haired Mavens
9 years ago
Update on there sister's in a Container: http://youtu.be/pzIFdYIPLzw

here's an update,
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Wild Haired Mavens
9 years ago
DIY EARTH BOX USING FOUND MATERIALS: http://youtu.be/UpYOGR6Mmi4

UPDATE ON DIY SELF WATERING CONTAINER: http://youtu.be/oMnCO9dCvjY
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floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
9 years ago
That's an interesting technique Mavens but I have to say that those Scarlet Runners are not looking too healthy and really haven't reached their true potential. They look sparsely blossomed and much of the foliage appears yellow and stunted. They could be at least 8 feet tall and loaded with tasty beans. They truly do need a lot more space than you have given them and no competition.

BTW the plant you were hoping to get a pumpkin from looks like a Hyacinth bean, Lablab.
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Wild Haired Mavens
9 years ago
The beans got to be to the roof top eventually, fell down and grew back up.

If you do your research it is common knowledge that runner beans dont always produce beans in southern California but they're perennial here so we get another chance next year.

The light beans are chrismas lima it grows in summer after runner's die down from heat.

If you check gardenweb i did keep posting picture here on other peoples spots as the beans continued to grow but i came on here to help someone that wanted some information in an area that i get good results time after time.

If you grow in container just tell your technique so people can learn.

This year im growing peas in that container and trying some dwarf pickwick runner beans.
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floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
9 years ago
Sorry to have annoyed you Mavens. I was just speaking from many decades of experience growing Runner Beans. They are the number one vegetable for home gardeners here in the UK. People who grow nothing else will grow a few runner beans. We eat the beans almost exclusively as green beans and do not grow them for the flowers so it is important that they crop optimally. The OP is not in California so waiting for a better crop from an overwintered tuber is not going to help him/her. I truly believe they would do far better giving their beans a lot more room than you have. Runner Beans are heavy feeders and water lovers and putting them in with other plants, although it works to your satisfaction, is not the optimum way to grow them. I suggested the OP look at illustrations on line but if figures are required they can put 6 - 8 beans into a container 18" high and 18" deep.

P.S. you mentioned eating the Runner Bean leaves in salads. In small quantities this may not be a problem but you do need to be aware that Phaseolus coccineus should not be eaten raw as they contain a toxic protein.

Container size for scarlet runner bean?

Wild Haired Mavens

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floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK

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