Phaseolus, Runner Bean 'Sunset'

This is a beautiful twining ornamental and a tasty productive vegetable. Blooms are pale salmon-pink, and they attract hummingbirds. If y...Read Moreou keep the pods well picked, it will continue to bloom for months. (Flowering stops if pods are allowed to mature on the vine.) Blooming may pause in heat of summer if temperatures are often over 90F, then continue when it cools.

Consistent moisture is needed for good bean production. In drought, these must not be allowed to dry out.

I enjoy the pods steamed or boiled, with a little butter. All parts of the plant is edible, including the roots.

All beans contain lectins, which can cause GI distress. Runner beans are no more toxic than any other bean. Cooking destroys the lectins.

As with any bean, wait till the soil is warm before direct sowing, as they can rot in cold soil. I use the traditional phenology for planting corn---plant when the oak leaves are the size of a squirrel's ear.

This is a perennial where it's hardy, but usually grown as an annual north of its hardiness range. The Missouri Botanical garden says it's hardy in Z7-11.

A unique runner bean that has beautiful salmon pink flowers, and matures early in 60 days from planting with a crop of flat, green beans....Read More
Excellent for freezing.

I've not been able to do this plant justice as my trellis gets, I think, less sun than it prefers. This year I'll try growing it on a tri...Read Morepod in all-day blazing sun and see how that goes.

It's always been attractive and easy to grow, and has to be the easiest seed in the world to save. Even in our wet western WA autumns I can go out, find handfuls of brown pods on the dead vines and bring them in the house.

60-65 days for these short and very flavorful beans.