Help! I feel like Jack and the Beanstalk!

A friend gave me some scarlet runner beans. Well, I planted them in peat pots and they are growing by leaps and bounds! You can almost watch them grow! What should I do with them? I have a fence that is in bright indirect light....that's about the only area I can think to put them. I can put some strings up I guess. Are these guys pretty enough to give much space? I know othing about them so any advice will be greatly appreciated...and soon before I can't get out my front door! LOL Thanks!

http://www.mastfarminn.com/aboutus/gardens/images/marie_scarlet_runner_beans_house.jpg

They are pretty, and I bet they'll grow like crazy down in your neck of the woods. Too well, maybe?

More info in the PDB: http://plantsdatabase.com/go/681/

This message was edited Feb 29, 2004 1:52 AM

Dale, I grow these every year on my wooden fence. I put strings in a "v" formation on my fence and they grow up it and cover the fence. These do not make as large a plant as purple hyacinth beans. So, I plant them about 6 inches apart to get a nice full showing. I warn you that they want to grow taller than my fence and I will put a 5 ft trellis against the fence for mine to grow up. I usually give them about 3-4 ft of length on my fence - - I prefer a smaller area of them as opposed to the larger area I give some of my other vines.

By the way, hummers love these. Nat

Nathalyn, do you happen to have any extra seeds for the scarlet runner bean?

Yep, I sure do Elena. Would you like me to mail them to you or do you want to wait until the RU? I have started mine anywhere from early May to early June and they have done well. Unlike the purple hyacinth beans, these bloom really quick and if started too early, die before summer is over.

GW...that is some display!
GL and Nat...my purple hyacinth beans did well and were in a column so got the same amount of light the runner beans will except that they had the advantage of starting in a 5 1/2' column. I stopped growing them because my dog is like a vacuum and I didn't want to take a chance on her getting ahold of some of the seeds that I missed clipping off. Do you think I should grow the runner beans taller in their peat pots as they won't get that much light until they get higher onto the fence? Or are they fairly forgiving as far as neediness? I also thought about growing 3-4 of them in a large pot in front of the fence and just letting them go...what do you think?
Elena...I may have lots of seeds for you next year! What do you think they will do when out heat and humidity set in?
Thanks so much!

DaleP6, I have never grown them so I don't have a clue what to expect as far as collecting seeds, the amount of water needed, etc. I don't anticipate a problem but of course I haven't read up on them yet either. Nathalyn is going to bring me some at the TN rundup and that may be all I will ever need. Thanks for the kind offer and maybe you will have enough to share with bunches of folks. I am looking forward to having that kind of success also. I always do count my chickens before they hatch however. Sometimes that works and sometimes it doesn't.

Dale, Unless they are in deep shade, I think that they will grow fine where you had you hyacinth beans. While these aren't exactly a cool weather vegetable, they probably will do better if planted before it gets so hot in Florida. I say, go ahead and plant a few in a pot - - they don't require much care.

Are you serious? You mean I am going to actually be raising FOOD? What a nice bonus. I though I was going to just be raising FLOWERS and pretty leaves!

Elena, Yep,the beans are edible - - but I just grow them for the flowers. Anytime, I decide to grow something for food - - I get gardening curses - bugs, fungus, rot, etc. I am convinced if I put one of the beans in my mouth, the vines would collapse and die! LOL

I will heed your wise advice and just enjoy the beauty of the plant and not subject myself to becomeing victim of a gardening curse. tee hee

nat, does that mean I should start my hyacinth beans inside??

tiG, I have always planted by hyacinth beans outside in the spring. But as my seed pods don't set on them until October, I thought that I would start them inside (maybe just a couple of weeks earlier than I normally start them) in an effort to get blooms and pods sooner.

By the way, here's photo of my Scarlett runner beans from a couple of years ago, growing on my fence.

up oh...I started my scarlet runners in side and they are already 3 feet tall/long! You mean they get that big? I planted them for some privacy on a trellis....guess I'll get that!

Really pretty leaves though, they REALLY like the greenhouse in my kitchen!

c'mon spring!!!!! HUrry up and stay!

Very pretty, Nat!

LOL lotsadirt - - you will have them growing on the ceiling before you can put them outside! Mine grow up my 4 ft fence and over a 5 ft. trellis - - and they still could grow higher.

Those are beautiful. I was right in thinking that I wanted them.

I built a ladder of sorts today. 10' sides with 3' rungs all the way up it. I am going to paont it purple...yes, purple and screw it to my fence. At the top of the ladder is an old heavy oak tree branch that my neighbors so unceremonily chopped off right at the fence and I have great hope it will grow to the top of the ladder and then use the maimed branch for more support. Aoe long do you think these will last in the heat? It won't be hellish hot until June...when day and night temps are very close to each other.

Should I just plop them in the ground at the base of the laddre or use a large pot and then train them? A laarge pot would be easier and safer for the seedlings but will they get root bound if I put 4-6 in a 12" pot? Quick! Let me know as these babies are rarin to go! LOL Thanks!
Dale

4-6 in a 12" pot should be fine. As I start mine early in the season, I don't know how they will do in your warmer area. However, if I start mine in early May - they usually are ready to pull out of the ground by mid to late August.

This message was edited Mar 4, 2004 8:11 AM